ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Accidents (Animals)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will introduce legislation to make it a defence in law for owners whose horses and other animals are involved in accidents to show that they have taken reasonable steps to avoid such accidents; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 April 2006
	The Animals Act 1971 currently has the effect of placing strict liability on the owner of animals that cause harm whatever the circumstances. This appears to be inconsistent with current liability law in other areas which allows for a general defence of reasonable care. The Government have acknowledged that there may be a case for an amendment to the Animals Act and expects to launch a consultation shortly on this matter.

Air Quality

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of air quality standards in Hull, North constituency.

Ben Bradshaw: Local authorities have a duty under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to review and assess the current, and likely future, air quality in their areas. Where local authorities consider that one or more of the nationally prescribed air quality objectives for each of the seven pollutants is unlikely to be met by the relevant deadline, they must declare an air quality management area (AQMA), covering the area where the problem is expected. These local authorities must then take action, along with other agencies and organisations, to work towards meeting the air quality objectives.
	Kingston-upon-Hull city council submitted their last Updating and Screening Assessment (USA) in July 2003. The authority subsequently carried out a Detailed Assessment in respect of nitrogen dioxide, particles (PM10), and sulphur dioxide, which was submitted to my Department in May 2004. In light of the conclusions of the Detailed Assessment, Kingston declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in respect of nitrogen dioxide, in August 2005. Kingston is currently developing their air quality action plan, which will set out measures to work towards meeting the air quality objective. They have included measures within Hull city council's local transport plan, which should improve the capacity to deliver cleaner air within the AQMA.
	The next round of review and assessments has now started and local authorities are asked to submit a new Updating and Screening Assessment by end of April 2006, which will be considered by my officials. My Department will be assessing Kingston-upon-Hull's report as part of this exercise.

Animal Welfare

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) allegations have been reported, (b) investigations taken place and (c) prosecutions pursued under (i) the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (ii) the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, (iii) the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (iv) the Pet Animals Act 1951, (v) the Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 and (vi) the Deer Act 1991 in each year since 1996.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 1996, no allegations have been reported, investigations conducted or prosecutions pursued by Defra under these pieces of legislation. The enforcement responsibility for these areas lies primarily with the police and local authorities.

Avian Influenza

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the (a) the potential for an outbreak of the H5N1 virus in the UK and (b) the potential impact of an outbreak on (i) the poultry industry and (ii) domestic poultry keepers.

Ben Bradshaw: H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed in a sample from the partially decomposed body of a Whooper swan found on the causeway at Cellardyke, Fife, Scotland. The swan is the first case of H5N1 detected in a wild bird in the UK and our current hypothesis is that it originated outside Great Britain. Ongoing intensified surveillance across the UK has not identified any other positive live or dead wild bird. There is also no evidence that the virus is present in domestic poultry.
	Poultry keepers within a 2,500 sq km wild bird risk area around the area where the swan was found have been required to house their birds. All bird keepers throughout the UK are encouraged to continue their efforts to maintain high levels of biosecurity and develop their plans to bring their birds indoors should that become necessary.
	The implications of the Whooper swan finding have been discussed with ornithologists and a revised veterinary risk assessment has been published. It concludes that the current measures put in place throughout Scotland are adequate and proportionate at present. The situation will continue to be reviewed.
	We are monitoring the market impact of avian flu closely. The European market is currently volatile, and the knock-on effects of significant downturns in some member states (notably Italy and France) are being felt domestically in terms of lower prices. So far, however, consumption of poultry products has not been significantly affected in the UK.

Cattle Exports

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what publicity her Department has undertaken to notify farmers of the regulations with which they must comply in order to export cattle;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with farming groups on the facilitation of the export of cattle to the EU once the ban is lifted;
	(3)  whether farmers will need a licence to export cattle to the EU;
	(4)  if she will make a statement on the regulations with which cattle farmers must comply in order to export cattle to the EU;
	(5)  what diseases cattle will need to be tested for prior to export to the EU.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 April 2006
	On 8 March 2006, the EU's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health unanimously approved a Commission proposal to allow the UK to export:
	cattle born or reared in the UK on or after 1 August 1996;
	beef and beef products derived from such cattle slaughtered on or after 15 June 2005;
	beef containing vertebral column, or products derived from vertebral column from cattle slaughtered on or after the date that the EU Regulation enters into force.
	Such exports may take place on the same basis as other member states and will be subject to strict health and welfare requirements. We expect the EU Regulation to enter into force on 2 May and exports to be able to resume from 3 May.
	In preparation for the lifting of the ban, Defra officials have held numerous meetings with key stakeholders from industry and animal welfare organisations to discuss the health and welfare requirements for exports. Defra has circulated to industry draft guidance on procedures for completing the necessary export health certification and route plans. The finalised versions of this guidance will be published shortly on Defra's website at <http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/default.htm>
	Requirements for export include testing for bovine tuberculosis in Great Britain when applicable, and when exporting to certain countries, for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis. Cattle from Northern Ireland must also be tested for brucellosis. In addition, cattle intended for export must be identified in accordance with EU law, with an official tag in each ear and a valid cattle passport.
	All exports must comply with the conditions laid down in EU and domestic legislation relating to animal and animal products exports, the welfare of animals during transport, BSE and cattle identification.

Chewing Gum

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to tackle chewing gum-related antisocial behaviour; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 specifically addresses this type of antisocial behaviour. Chewing gum is clearly defined as litter under the Act, and all local authorities have the power to fine people caught dropping gum.
	The Chewing Gum Action Group—which brings together chewing gum manufacturers, the Local Government Association, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, ENCAMS (who run the 'Keep Britain Tidy' campaign), Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Improvement and Development Agency and Defra—recently announced funding for 15 local authorities across England to support campaigns aimed at helping them deal with the problem of gum litter.
	The campaigns will use a mixture of advertising, alternative disposal and enforcement measures to reduce gum litter in these areas.

Chewing Gum

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what representations she has received from private business regarding chewing gum-related antisocial behaviour;
	(2)  what representations she has received regarding chewing gum-related crime; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Private industry is represented on the Chewing Gum Action Group. The Department has also received a number of representations from private businesses regarding the production and marketing of chewing gum disposal solutions.

Chewing Gum

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much less chewing gum there was on relevant streets at the end of the Chewing Gum Action Group campaign pilot period.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 January 2006, Official Report, column 211OW.

Chewing Gum

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much private funding the Chewing Gum Action Group campaign pilots received; and how much is estimated to be available in the future.

Ben Bradshaw: The chewing gum pilot campaigns received £378,873 of private funding. An additional £600,000 of private funding will be available to help support 15 further campaigns, beginning in May.

Climate Change

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the climate change levy on the environment; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The climate change levy (CCL) is playing a crucial role in enabling the UK to meet its Kyoto Protocol target.
	An independent evaluation by Cambridge Econometrics, commissioned by HM Revenue and Customs and published alongside Budget 2005, has examined the effect of the levy since its announcement in Budget 1999 and introduction in April 2001. It concluded that the levy could deliver cumulative savings to 2005 of 16.5 million tonnes of carbon (MtC) and by 2010, annual carbon savings of over 3.5 MtC a year—well above the 2 MtC estimated at the time of its introduction.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 7 March 2006 from the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding a constituent.

Jim Knight: holding answer 24 April 2006
	I apologise for the delay in replying to the hon. Member's letter. A response was issued on 24 April.

Emissions

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2004, Official Report, column824W, on emission levels, whether local authorities are obliged to include conditions which represent the best available techniques when issuing a permit under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999;
	(2)  what steps her Department intends to take to ensure compliance with Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control SG2 for new glass-making facilities.

Ben Bradshaw: The Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations require local authorities, in deciding what conditions to include in a permit, to take account of various principles, including that installations should be operated in such a way that all appropriate preventive measures are taken against pollution, in particular through application of the best available techniques". It is for local authorities to decide on the facts of each individual case, having regard to any guidance issued to them by the Secretary of State, what constitutes the best available techniques in that case.
	Statutory guidance note SG2 sets out the Secretary of State's views on what constitute the best available techniques for the generality of glass manufacturing activities. Regulators must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State. It does not specify the standards that must be included in individual permits.

Exercise Hawthorn

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the results from Exercise Hawthorn will be made known.

Ben Bradshaw: Exercise Hawthorn was scheduled to take place between 5 and 6 April. As soon as we confirmed that highly pathogenic H5 virus had been discovered in a dead swan in Cellerdyke, Scotland on the afternoon of 5 April, the exercise was brought to an end to ensure that we could bring all our resources to bear on this situation.
	Although we are disappointed that the exercise could not be concluded, useful results have been gathered, and we will publish these in the summer.

Flooding

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2006 to Question 61242, on flood defences, whether she has discussed these funding levels with the Treasury.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 April 2006
	Funding levels for flood risk management are set by Defra following Treasury decision in the 2004 Spending Review on the overall spending limits for the Department for 2005–06 to 2007–08. An effective flood risk management service is a priority for Defra and funding for this was discussed with Treasury during the 2004 Review. There has been no specific discussion since on the level of flood spend.
	The level of spending on flood risk management will be considered in the context of the comprehensive spending review in 2007 as will the level of the Department's spend across all areas.

Fly-tipping

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of fly-tipping were reported in (a) Hull North constituency and (b) Kingston-upon-Hull in each year since 1997; how many prosecutions were made as a result; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has worked with the Environment Agency to establish Flycapture, the national database of fly-tipping incidents, which has been operational since April 2004. No national data were previously available on illegal waste disposal or fly-tipping. Flycapture collects data at local authority level only.
	The data are probably an underestimate and will increase as authorities get better at collecting and reporting the data.
	Kingston-upon-Hull city council reported 4,929 incidents of fly-tipping between June 2004 and March 2005 (an average of 493 incidents a month) and 7,199 between April 2005 and February 2006 (an average of 655 a month). The Environment Agency investigated five incidents between June 2004 and March 2005 in Kingston-upon-Hull.
	The data submitted for prosecutions are incomplete, but show that Kingston-upon-Hull city council took forward five prosecutions in 2004–05 and a further 16 in 2005–06.

GM Crops/Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which EU states are in favour of co-existence between GM and non-GM crops; and what clarification of the position was achieved at the recent Vienna Conference.

Elliot Morley: It is generally recognised that if GM crops are to be grown commercially then coexistence measures will be needed. In Article 26a of Directive 2001/18/EC member states agreed that the Commission should develop guidelines on coexistence. However, member states have different views as to what precise form coexistence measures should take.
	The European Commission has recently published a report on the implementation of national coexistence measures and this is available at www.europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/coexistence/com104_en.pdf.
	The concluding remarks from the recent EU conference in Vienna are at http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/events/vienna2006/concl_en.pdf.

GM Crops/Food

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the European Commission following its proposals to allow organic food to include up to 0.9 per cent. GM.

Ben Bradshaw: A Council Working Group to discuss the EC proposal for a Council regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products to replace the current Regulation 2092/91 has met five times and discussions are continuing.

Horseracing

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has plans to review the regulation of the horseracing industry, with particular reference to the avoidance of deaths of horses on race days.

Ben Bradshaw: Regulation of the horseracing industry is being transferred from the Jockey Club to the Horseracing Regulatory Authority (HRA). The Department welcomes the transfer and views it as a vital step towards the modernisation of the sport. We are confident that the HRA will work closely with the industry to continually assess and improve measures to protect racehorses from harm.
	The Protection of Animals Act 1911 already protects the welfare of racehorses. Under this Act it is an offence to ill treat or cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal. The maximum penalty is a fine of £5,000 or six months' imprisonment, or both.
	The Animal Welfare Bill will extend these powers by introducing a duty of care for those who are responsible for animals. This will allow action to be taken, even if the animal is not currently suffering. Under the Bill, we have proposed that the maximum penalty for an offence of cruelty will be raised to a fine of up to £20,000 or imprisonment for 51 weeks, or both.

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Regime

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what advice and support her Department provides to local authorities dealing with applications under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regime;
	(2)  whether her Department has mechanisms in place to ensure consistency in enforcement of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regime across local authorities.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra provides a range of support to local authorities in discharging their responsibilities under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations. These include the publication of statutory guidance, published advice on procedures and interpretations, and technical and other support in response to queries. All relevant written material, which is aimed at maximising consistency of local authority practice and assisting with effective and efficient discharge of their functions under this legislation, can be found on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ppc. It is necessary for the Department to exercise caution in advising on individual cases, because to do so might prejudice the decision on any appeal that might come before the Secretary of State.

Landfill

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's estimate is of the number of cubic metres of landfill required for one tonne of waste.

Ben Bradshaw: It would depend on the density of the waste. If my right hon. Friend would like to write to me with more details I will provide a fuller answer.

Recycling

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) steps her Department has taken and (b) targets the Department has established to encourage Swindon borough council to recycle (i) domestic waste, (ii) commercial waste and (iii) plastic; and what percentage of waste was recycled in the Borough over the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is as follows.
	Domestic Waste
	There are two targets for local authorities to achieve in respect of domestic waste.
	The first is to meet the challenging national target set by the EU Landfill Directive.
	By 2010 to reduce biodegradable municipal waste land filled to 75 per cent. of that produced in 1995
	By 2013 to reduce biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 50 per cent. of that produced in 1995
	By 2020 to reduce biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 35 per cent. of that produced in 1995.
	This target is being delivered through a combination of measures/drivers designed to assist and encourage local authorities. In particular the Government have established the Waste Implementation Programme (WIP) with an aim of driving waste management solutions up the waste hierarchy, improving the sustainability of waste management. WIP delivers this through the following nine work-streams:
	1. Local Authority Support Unit
	2. Local Authority Funding
	3. Waste Minimisation (managed by WRAP 1 )
	4. Efficiency
	5. Education (managed by WRAP)
	6. Kerbside recycling (managed by WRAP)
	7. Research
	8. Data
	9. New Technologies
	1 WRAP—Waste Resource Action Programme
	Recycling is towards the top of the waste hierarchy, together with minimisation and reuse, and each of the work-streams includes effort towards these areas.
	Local authorities are responsible for meeting the EU targets and contribute individually to the overall target through compliance with the Local Authority Trading Scheme (LATS) scheme. This provides landfill allowance allocations for each authority and measures their performance against these targets. The scheme allows authorities to trade their allowances (buying, selling, or borrowing from future years) with penalties applied to those who fail to meet the scheme requirements.
	The second target is the Defra PSA6 target to:
	Enable at least 25 per cent. of household waste to be recycled or composted by 2005–06, with further improvements by 2008.
	Although looking more widely than biodegradable waste this target focuses on household—rather than municipal—waste.
	WIP monitors and assists with the delivery of this target in a number of ways but in particular through programmes of work delivered through WRAP, and the work undertaken by the Local Authority Support Unit programme.
	Commercial Waste
	The current targets, and therefore WIP remit, does not extend to commercial waste. Current policy is for local authorities to manage commercial waste through the usual commercial processes.
	Plastics
	The Biodegradeable municipal remit of WIP does not extend plastics, however WRAP are using other Defra funding to engage with industry to develop recycling markets.
	Recycling/Composting Performance for Swindon borough council
	The Recycling/Composting Performance for the last five years for Swindon borough council is outlined in the following table:
	
		
			  BVPI 82a+b (recycling+composting) 
		
		
			 2004–05 19.55 
			 2003–04 15.4 
			 2002–03 14 
			 2001–02 13 
			 2000–01 13

Recycling

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the average cost to local authorities of recycling a tonne of kerbside waste.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA does not gather information on the cost of recycling kerbside waste. The cost of recycling will vary depending on a number of factors, including the collection method used by a local authority, the materials collected and the market for recycled materials.

Recycling

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding Lancashire county council has received to support recyling in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 April 2006
	The main source of funding for local authorities' waste management services is the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of annual Government grant. It is for local authorities to decide what proportion of the block is invested in waste management services, including recycling. Funding is also provided from DEFRA and a variety of other sources to support sustainable waste management at a local level, including through partnerships with other local authorities. The amounts allocated to Lancashire county council are set out in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 
		
		
			 Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund 61,689+ (1)2,418,363 (1)2,033,201 (1)5,000,000 — — — 
			
			 Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant — — — 500,415 1,318,058 1,380,942 
			
			 Grant to Relieve Spending Pressures on Waste — — 269,914 — — — 
			
			 Household Incentives Pilots Scheme — — — (1)280,000 — — 
			
			 Direct Consultancy Support through DEFRA's Waste  Implementation programme — — (1)25,761 — — — 
			
			 DEFRA's Waste and Resources Action Programme — 154,650 74,999+ 477,100 — — — 
		
	
	(1)As part of a partnership with other local authorities.

Recycling

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking to increase the proportion of waste recycled by business;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the proportion of waste recycled by business in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: Most recent data from the Environment Agency (2002–03) indicate that 44 per cent. of waste produced by business in England and Wales was recycled. This level of recycling exceeds what is being achieved for household waste, and is up from 37.5 per cent. in 1998–89.
	The Government have identified a need for further action on recycling by businesses and producer responsibility makes an important contribution to increasing recycling. The policy is aimed at ensuring that businesses take responsibility for the environmental impact of products that they place on the market, particularly once they become waste. Recent waste legislation, such as that implementing EC directives on packaging and end-of-life vehicles, places various requirements on producers, including recovery and recycling targets.
	Government funding from the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) Programme is another significant element of the Government programme to increase recycling by businesses, by funding resource efficiency and waste minimisation programmes. Various BREW delivery bodies are charged with returning £284 million, from additional landfill tax receipts, to business over three years.
	Initiatives already under way to encourage recycling by businesses, under BREW and other programmes, include:
	work by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), to improve the range and quality of recycled products and to increase the demand for them;
	a WRAP-led pilot of sector-specific help for small businesses. Following this pilot, DEFRA will consider how recycling services for small businesses might best be developed;
	work by Envirowise to provide resource efficiency advice to businesses;
	the DTI Technology Programme, which facilitates research and development into resource efficiency, including in the area of waste management; and
	the Environment Agency's pilot of an online internet service for small businesses: 'What do I do with my waste?'. The pilot is working as an extension to the Agency's existing guidance service for small and medium sized enterprises ('NetRegs').
	The Government are currently reviewing its Waste Strategy for England. On 14 February 2006, DEFRA issued a consultation document on the review which suggested various proposals to increase business waste recycling and recovery. The proposals include a wider role for local authorities in fostering better recycling services for small businesses, better integrating municipal and business waste management and continuing to develop markets for recycled materials. The consultation period ends on 9 May. Following the consultation, DEFRA will issue a revised strategy which will take account of comments received from stakeholders.
	The Government do not have an estimate of the proportion of waste recycled by business in the last 12 months. However, the Environment Agency estimates that 53 per cent. of all business waste regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) regime was recycled or re-used in 2004. DEFRA is developing a data strategy to provide future data on waste arisings and recycling.

Recycling

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what Government policy is on the recycling of batteries;
	(2)  what plans she has to encourage companies to recycle the batteries which they (a) produce and (b) sell, with particular reference to batteries of three kilos or more.

Ben Bradshaw: There is currently no legislative requirement to recycle spent batteries. However, the Government support the development of the proposed EU Batteries Directive as its objectives are consistent with those in the Government's Waste Strategy and Sustainable Development Strategy. Both aim to reduce the quantity of hazardous and non hazardous waste batteries going to landfill and increase the recovery of waste materials.
	The proposed directive, which might be expected to come into force in the UK in 2008, sets targets for the collection and recycling of all waste batteries. We expect that producers of batteries will have collection and recycling obligations to meet. The exact form these may take will not be decided until the directive has been finalised and we have completed formal domestic consultation with all parties concerned. It is expected that producers will need to work closely with waste management companies and local authorities, among others, in order to collect and recycle waste batteries in line with the likely obligations under the directive.

Recycling

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the local authorities which have provision for battery recycling; and how many battery recycling schemes there are in England.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA has commissioned the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to work with 12 partner organisations in 13 local authority areas across the UK to trial the kerbside collection of waste household batteries. The following local authorities and organisations are taking part in the scheme in England:
	Barnsley—Rabbit Recycling (North Barnsley) Ltd
	Calderdale—Kerbside Calderdale
	East Devon—East Devon District Council
	Eastleigh—Eastleigh Borough Council
	Harlow—Environmental Conservation Co-operative Ltd (ECCO)
	Liverpool—Energywise Recycling
	Stockton on Tees—Stockton on Tees Borough Council
	Trafford—EMERGE Recycling
	The trial is likely to be extended in the future.
	A number of local authorities currently provide collection facilities for spent batteries. These include:
	Brighton and Hove Council
	Bristol City Council;
	Cambridgeshire County Council;
	Ceredigion Council;
	Cheshire County Council;
	Gloucestershire County Council;
	Hampshire County Council;
	Kingston upon Hull Council;
	Lancashire County Council;
	Newport City Council;
	Powys County Council;
	Sheffield City Council;
	Suffolk County Council
	Surrey County Council;
	The London Borough of Barnet;
	The London Borough of Brent
	The London Borough of Sutton
	The London Borough of Waltham Forest; and
	West Sussex County Council.
	In addition, a number of schools have become involved in the collection of spent portable batteries in Lancashire.

Recycling

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities in England have made recycling compulsory.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold the information requested. It is up to each local authority to decide how to go about meeting the challenging recycling targets in their local area.
	Compulsory recycling will not be suitable for all local authorities, but Defra will watch those that try such schemes with interest. We are continuing to investigate options for influencing householder behaviour, with particular emphasis on positive incentives to help authorities encourage householders to reduce, re-use and recycle their waste.

Recycling

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage local authorities to recycle plastic.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government have set challenging household waste recycling targets for local authorities and is proposing to increase them as part of the current Waste Strategy Review consultation. 60 per cent. of English local authorities provided plastic collection facilities in 2004. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is supporting the efforts of local authorities by increasing domestic plastic recycling capacity and developing markets for recycled plastic products. WRAP'S ROTATE programme also gives local authorities free advice on collection programmes and local communications and awareness programmes. This will include advice on plastics recycling facilities if applicable.

Recycling

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many recycling points there are per 1,000 population in (a) Swindon borough council area and (b) England.

Ben Bradshaw: Requested figures, based on 2003–04 DEFRA Municipal Waste Management Survey and 2003 mid-year population estimates, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Recycling points per 1,000 population 
		
		
			 Swindon Borough Council 0.24 
			 England 0.41 
		
	
	Note:
	Recycling points are civic amenity and recycling sites.

Research Contracts

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the research contracts granted by her Department to research facilities in Wales in each of the last 20 years.

Ben Bradshaw: A full response to this question could be made only at disproportionate cost. DEFRA and its predecessor Departments have substantial research programmes. DEFRA currently spends around £160 million annually on research and at any one time has in the order of 1,500 ongoing projects with a large number of contractors.
	However, DEFRA proactively publishes large amounts of data on its R and D projects through its website http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/project_data/Default.asp This includes information on live" projects and those completed over recent years. It is also possible to access separate information on research contractors used through this site.

Ring Rot

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) correspondence and (b) meetings the Department has had with representatives from the Royal Netherlands embassy in connection with the outbreak of ring rot of potatoes in 2003 in Wales.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 18 April 2006
	A list of correspondence between the Department and representatives from the Royal Netherlands embassy, inconnection with the outbreak of potato ring rot in Wales in 2003, is as follows. This includes some correspondence associated with subsequent outbreaks. There have been no meetings between the Department and the Royal Netherlands embassy to discuss this issue.
	
		List of correspondence between DEFRA and Royal NL embassy concerning the 2003 ring rot outbreak
		
			 Type of correspondence Date Between Subject 
		
		
			 Letter 1 April 2004 McIntosh/Thissen Inviting contributions to the lessons learned review 
			 e-mail 14 May 2004 McIntosh/Thissen Extension to lessons learned review 
			 Letter 26 May 2004 Thissen/McIntosh Response to lessons learned review 
			 Letter 9 June 2004 McIntosh/Thissen Providing draft copy of lessons learned report 
			 Letter 18 June 2004 McIntosh/Thissen With thanks for contributing to the lessons 
			 e-mail 27 August 2004 Thissen/McIntosh Thanks for copy of draft lessons learned review 
			 Letter 8 September 2004 Hunter/Thissen State of affairs 
			 Letter 13 September 2004 McIntosh/Thissen Providing a copy of the final lessons learned review 
			 e-mail 12 October 2004 Thissen/McIntosh State of affairs 
			 e-mail 6 December 2004 McIntosh/Thissen State of affairs 
			 e-mail 5 January 2005 McIntosh/Thissen State of affairs 
			 e-mail 17 January 2005 Rikken/McIntosh/Thissen State of affairs 
			 e-mail 25 January 2005 Rikken/McIntosh/Thissen State of affairs 
			 Letter 2 February 2005 Van Opstal/Thissen/Hunter New notification Regulations 
			 e-mail 26 April 2005 Rikken/McIntosh/Hunter State of affairs

Single Payment Scheme

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to ensure farmers threatened with bankruptcy proceedings by British banks due to delays with Single Farm Payments are offered a guarantee from the Government to the bank up to the level of the sums owing together with interest; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 24 April 2006
	My noble Friend Lord Bach met the British Bankers' Association and other representatives of the major lending banks on 30 March to discuss the situation of farmers awaiting payment under the Single Payment Scheme. The banks re-emphasised on that occasion that
	no viable business is being refused additional financial support and, as a result, no viable businesses are failing because of uncertainty about the payments timetable".
	I am sure that farmers who have not yet received a payment will have joined the leaders of the NFU, CLA and TFA in welcoming the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 19 April 2006, Official Report, column13WS, that partial payments will be made to them as soon as it is operationally possible to do so.

Southern Water

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with Southern Water on the continuing leakage from the two reservoirs at Halfway on the Isle of Sheppey.

Elliot Morley: Defra has had no discussions with Southern Water concerning leakage from the two reservoirs at Halfway on the Isle of Sheppey.
	However, I understand that the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) has been contacted about this issue. CCW advised those concerned to contact Southern Water directly, who has a duty to maintain reservoirs under their ownership. Southern Water responded directly to these individuals' concerns.

Waste

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department will publish guidance on the definition of waste; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 35W.

Waste

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to raise awareness for waste disposal purposes of hidden batteries which are inbuilt in products.

Ben Bradshaw: Batteries that are inbuilt into products will have to be removed under the requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. The directive requires the selective treatment of WEEE delivered to authorised treatment facilities, and one of the treatments specified is the removal of batteries. Defra has prepared draft WEEE permitting regulations and guidance. We will introduce the regulations before the introduction of the producer responsibility requirements of the DTI WEEE regulations. The DTI expects to consult on draft WEEE regulations later this spring.

Waste

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons Herefordshire Council has not received funding from the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund was challenge based, and in each of the three bidding rounds applications were received from a large number of local authorities. Defra considered in full each application against set criteria agreed with an expert advisory panel, comprising key representatives from across the industry.
	The panel separately assessed each application and Defra officials took into account their recommendations before final decisions were taken by the Minister of State.
	Support was given to the best local authority projects designed to either minimise the amount of household waste generated, or those that aimed to provide more new or improved facilities for re-use and recycling and composting.
	Herefordshire council submitted a bid in round 2 of the Fund (2003–04) that was unsuccessful. However, the council did not submit a bid in either the first or third rounds.
	The Government's Waste Implementation Programme (WIP) provides a range of support, analysis and assessment work to compliment the funding and help local authorities deliver the best waste minimisation and recycling services.
	Herefordshire council has received funding for a number of different projects from Defra, which are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 Funding type Start date End date Amount (£) 
		
		
			 Waste Performance and  Efficiency Grant 1 April 2005 31 March 2006 132,415 
			 Household Incentives 1 April 2005 31 March 2006 61,800 
			 Household Incentives 1 April 2005 31 March 2006 20,583 
		
	
	In addition, in December 2005, Defra wrote to all local authorities regarding the Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant (WPEG). This is a 3-year targeted grant totalling £260 million over 3 years, which is replacing the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund from 2006.
	Every English local authority with waste management responsibilities received a portion of the £40 million allocation in 2005–06. The allocations for the next two years were announced at the end of 2005.
	Under this grant, Herefordshire Council is set to receive £348,944.18 in 2006–07 and £365,548.83 in 2007–08. Further information, and a full list of allocations to local authorities is available on the Defra website at the following address: http://www.defra.gov.uk/Environment/waste/localauth/funding/index.htm.

Wild Birds

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans shehas made for a ban on the import of captive wild birds.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK cannot make a decision to ban imports of wild birds unilaterally. It is for the European Commission to consider, in conjunction with the views or representations of all European Union (EU) member states.
	A temporary ban on the import of captive wild birds into the EU from third countries is currently in place until 31 May 2006. The Government are currently seeking views from interested parties on issues relating to this ban. Any representations to the Commission about extending it will be made after thorough consideration of any comments received.

Wild Birds

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether seizures of wild birds illegally imported into the UK have increased since the introduction of the EU ban on the import of live captive birds.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no evidence to suggest that there has been an increase in seizures of wild birds illegally imported into the UK since the introduction of the EU ban.

Wild Birds

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government will be making representations for an extension of the EU ban on the import of live captive birds beyond 31 May.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government are currently seeking views from interested parties on issues relating to the ban. Any representations to the European Commission about extending the ban will be made after thorough consideration of any comments we receive.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Bank Accounts

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research the Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the introduction of a universal service obligation guaranteeing citizens access to a basic bank account; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	In December 2004, the banks and the Government agreed to work towards the shared goal of halving the number of adults in households with no bank account of any kind and of having made significant progress in that direction within two years. The Financial Inclusion Taskforce has been asked to monitor progress toward this goal and its recent report concluded that steady progress had been made.
	Developments will be reviewed at the end of the two year period to see whether further initiatives are needed.

China

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the level of UK trade with China.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 30 March 2006
	UK Trade with China is growing strongly. Chinese figures for the first 11 months of 2005 shows that UK exports grew by 15 per cent.—higher than any of our major European competitors (Germany 1 per cent., Italy 9 per cent.). Chinese exports of goods to the UK totalled £12.835 billion in 2005.
	Ensuring that UK business is best placed to take advantage of the new opportunities that are becoming available as China's economy develops is a key priority for this Government. There are currently a number of government-to-government dialogues taking place between China and the UK, namely, the Chancellor's Asia Task Force, the China Task Force and the UK-China Joint Economic Trade Commission (JETC) which aim to tackle barriers to trade and promote two-way trade and investment.
	The UK is one of the largest investors in China (and the largest EU investor in China and Hong Kong combined) with a total of 4,834 British invested projects as of November 2005.

GMOs

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received (a) supporting the free trade of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and (b) requesting that markets remain free of GMOs; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has received (a) no recent representations supporting the free trade of genetically modified organisms and (b) a considerable volume of correspondence as part of a campaign calling for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to support the right of European countries to ban genetically modified food and crops and call for disputes over environmental, social and health issues to be dealt with by alternative institutions to the World Trade Organisation.

Home Computing Initiative Scheme

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many individuals have participated in the Home Computing Initiative Scheme in each year since 1999, broken down by region.

Alun Michael: holding answer 18 April 2006
	I am unable to provide a statistical breakdown of how many Individuals have participated in the Home Computing Initiative Scheme in each year since 1999 or by region. This information is not available.
	A recent estimation provided by the HCI Alliance (BT, Intel and Microsoft) indicates that over 500,000 units have been loaned under the Home Computer Initiative Scheme since 1999.

Notaries Public

Michael Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek an amendment of European regulations to ensure that British notaries public are allowed to work in all EU member states; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) in response to a similar question, on 21 March 2006, Official Report, column 302W.
	The Government continue to support the inclusion of notary services within the European Commission's proposal for a directive on services in the internal market.

South West Regional Development Agency Offices

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of running the South West of England Regional Development Agency offices in Australia, China, Japan and North America in each of the last five years; and what the budget is for these offices for the 2006–07 financial year.

Alun Michael: The South West of England Regional Development Agency has provided the information on the cost of overseas offices as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Australia China Japan North America Total 
		
		
			 2001–02 0 0 180,846 451,873 632,719 
			 2002–03 0 0 264,938 448,698 713,635 
			 2003–04 0 0 410,732 409,939 820,671 
			 2004–05 67,000 50,000 339,530 145,470 601,999 
			 2005–06 70,000 82,000 398,405 122,187 672,592 
			 2006–07 70,000 80,000 400,000 125,000 675,000

South West Regional Development Agency Offices

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the work of the overseas offices of the South West Regional Development Agency in Australia, China, Japan and North America.

Alun Michael: These offices are funded by the South West of England Regional Development Agency in support of its statutory purposes under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, subject to financial arrangements and reporting requirements also set out in the Act.
	The Agency assesses its overseas teams principally in terms of their contribution to foreign direct investment in the South West of England economy, which for 2005–06 was:
	
		
			  Country Number of projects  New/safeguarded jobs 
		
		
			 USA 7 over 360 new jobs and over 800 jobs safeguarded 
			 Japan 6 over 90 new jobs and over 540 jobs safeguarded 
			 Australia 5 35 new jobs and 15 jobs safeguarded 
		
	
	The Chinese economy is growing at almost 10 per cent. per annum and there is a recognition that the UK lags behind US, Japan and Germany in terms of identifying and exploiting opportunities for investment, trade and collaboration between academic institutions.
	The China office aims to seek investment opportunities as its economy evolves from being predominantly a destination for foreign direct investment into an overseas investor itself. It has a role developing partnership opportunities and collaboration on research and development and teaching in support of regional universities. It also works to support UK Trade and Investment to ensure that trade opportunities for South West of England from this rapidly developing market are encouraged and supported.
	The Agency plans an independent review of its overseas teams during this financial year. The review will inform the Agency before it commits to any funding beyond March 2007 and will explore the direct and indirect benefits that the overseas offices provide to attracting and retaining investment in the South West region.

Westinghouse Electric Co.

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress of the sale of Westinghouse Electric Co. to Toshiba Corporation; and when he expects the sale to be completed.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 18 April 2006
	The sale of Westinghouse to Toshiba is proceeding smoothly. The parties are working to complete the transaction speedily with timing still dependent on obtaining the necessary regulatory clearances (which began last week with the US anti-trust and CFIUS filings). We currently still expect completion of the sale by end September 2006.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliamentary Network

David Drew: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission on how many occasions the parliamentary network has been inaccessible from (a) the parliamentary estate and (b) remote locations in the last 12 months; and what plans the Commission has to ensure service improvements.

Nick Harvey: During 2005 there were eight occasions when the Parliamentary Network was not accessible from within Parliament, five occasions when it was not accessible from remote locations using the VPN (virtual private network), and eight occasions when it was not accessible from either location. Most were instances of planned maintenance for which users of the network are normally given seven days' notice, and which is normally undertaken either at weekends or before 9am and after 7pm on weekdays. Over the year overall network availability, excluding planned maintenance, was 99.65 per cent. and including planned maintenance was 98.59 per cent.
	Since late January 2006 the performance of the VPN remote access service has deteriorated. The Parliamentary ICT service is, as a matter of priority, working to identify the root cause of slow running experienced on occasions by many users. In the medium to longer term the Parliamentary ICT service has begun a fundamental re-assessment of the technologies used and services offered to remote users. A key objective of this work is to provide more assured access and performance than can be guaranteed at present.

TRANSPORT

Air Quality (Fines)

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) cars and (b) ministerial cars have been fined for leaving their engine running unnecessarily under the air quality management areas since this provision came into effect; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: No fines for breaking local air quality management regulations have been issued to the Government Car and Despatch Agency for its ministerial cars or any other vehicles it operates.

Aviation White Paper

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the planned timetable for the publication of the review of the Aviation White Paper will be affected by the postponement of the consultation on railway alternation at Heathrow airport.

Derek Twigg: In the Air Transport White Paper, we said that by the end of 2006 we would report progress generally on the White Paper policies and proposals. There are no plans to change this timetable in view of the postponement of the consultation on mixed mode at Heathrow airport.

Blackpool Tramway

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his policy to fund the renewal proposals for the Blackpool tramway.

Derek Twigg: Our policy is to support tram schemes, where they are the right solution, and where they represent value for money. In July 2004, the Department rejected a bid to convert the Blackpool system to a modern light rail system, because the scheme did not represent value for money. We asked the promoters to re-examine lower cost alternatives.
	Last year, Blackpool borough council and Lancashire county council submitted a business case to the Department for upgrading the Blackpool tramway. We are considering the proposals based on value for money, including the wider benefits, affordability and region advice.

Bridge Construction (A27 Beddingham)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects construction to begin on a bridge to replace the level crossing at Beddingham on the A27.

Stephen Ladyman: A decision on the Inspector's Report following last year's public inquiry is the next stage in the statutory processes of this scheme. The earliest date construction could start of the A27 Southerham to Beddingham improvement, which includes a bridge to replace the Beddingham level crossing, is in late summer this year. This is subject to a favourable decision, completion of statutory procedures, and the availability of funds.

Contracts (Voluntary Sector)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts are let by his Department to voluntary sector organisations; how many of those are let on an annual basis; and how many of those had received finalised contracts for 2006–07 by 31 March.

Derek Twigg: This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department provides local authorities with financial support for the provision of transport services but it is at their discretion how much of this goes to the voluntary and community sector.

Disability Access

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the implementation of the voluntary code of practice on disability access on aeroplanes and ships is being monitored by his Department.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport, in conjunction with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, has commissioned research projects to monitor both sectors' compliance with the voluntary codes. These projects are due to report shortly.
	We are committed to legislation if the codes prove ineffective. The provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 enable us to do this without further primary legislation.

Disabled Access

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage train operating companies to create disabled access facilities at railway stations.

Derek Twigg: I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Statement to the House on the Railways for All Strategy on 23 March 2006, Official Report, columns 39–40WS.

Grievance Procedures

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints of (a) bullying and (b) sexual harassment have been investigated in his Department in each of the last three years; and how many complaints have been upheld.

Derek Twigg: There has been a total of 33 complaints of bullying across the Department and its Executive Agencies over the past three years, nine of which have been upheld, and five of which are ongoing. There have been six complaints of sexual harassment, four of which have been upheld. Owing to the low number of cases, and the need to maintain confidentiality, it is not possible to break these figures down further.
	These figures include the Government Car and Despatch Agency throughout the period, even although it only became part of the Department for Transport in November 2005. They exclude the Highways Agency, who have not to date recorded this information centrally, although they will do so from 1 April 2006.
	The Department's Staff Handbook contains guidance on procedures to be followed in cases of bullying and harassment, and this was supplemented by a Diversity Briefing Note that was published by the Department's Equality and Diversity Unit in June 2005.
	The Department has a network of Harassment Contact Officers, who are able to investigate complaints in a confidential manner. We have also run events covering the issues of Bullying and Sexual Harassment as part of our Valuing Diversity series of events in DfT (Central), and the agencies have also included this aspect into their diversity training.

Homeland Security

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2006, Official Report, column 855W, on homeland security, what the (a) lessons learnt and (b) improvements made were from the Merseyrail exercises for emergency preparedness in January 2006.

Derek Twigg: It is not appropriate to discuss the detail of any exercises undertaken or security arrangements in place.

Railways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reopen the Sheffield Woodhead to Manchester railway line to freight traffic; what timescale he envisages for making a decision; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: We are aware of private sector initiatives to reopen the line but no formal proposal has been put to the Department.

Railways

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when (a) he and (b) his officials last met Arriva Trains Wales to discuss (i) capacity and service provision on the South Wales mainline, (ii) improving connecting services west of Cardiff, (iii) overcrowding on trains and (iv) improvements to station facilities and security.

Derek Twigg: Ministers meet representatives from the train operating companies from time to time and a wide range of issues are discussed.
	There is no specific obligation, within the ATW Franchise Agreement, to enhance station facilities although there is an obligation to enhance security provisions at car parks to railway stations along this route.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to carry out a (a) national and (b) regional survey of railway station usage.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport has been collecting usage data from all stations across Great Britain as part of the National Rail Travel Survey. Results from this survey should be available in autumn 2006, and will build both a national and regional picture of rail travel and station usage.

Railways

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 7 March 2006, Official Report, column1280W, on railways, what the levels of overcrowding in peak hours were on train lines on each (a) line and (b) franchise in each year since 199697, broken down by passenger transport executive area.

Derek Twigg: Figures for Passengers in Excess of Capacity (PIXC), a measure which applies to weekday commuter trains arriving in London between 07:00 and 09:59 and those departing London between 16:00 and 18:59 for the train operators, are available in the Libraries of the House.
	The PIXC measure does not apply to other services and the additional information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Railways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for direct railway services between Leeds and London of the decision to start direct railway services between Sunderland and London; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: An assessment of the decision is being carried out by Network Rail on direction from the Office of Rail Regulation. It is expected to be completed by June.

Road Accidents (Essex)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were (a) killed and (b) injured in road accidents in Essex between 1995 and the latest available date.

Stephen Ladyman: 832 people were killed and 70,816 were seriously and slightly injured in personal injury road accidents in Essex (excluding the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock) between the years 1995 and 2004 (the latest for which figures are available).

School Run

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate the Department has made of the total number of miles driven to take children to and from school over the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: Data from the National Travel Survey showing the number of miles travelled by car drivers for the purpose of escorting others to education are given in the following table. Data are provided on a single-year basis to 2002. Prior to this, the NTS sample was too small to give reliable single-year estimates. Data have therefore been presented for 19992001 as a three-year average.
	
		Million
		
			  Total mileage 
		
		
			 19992001 average 3,940 
			 2002 3,802 
			 2003 3,947 
			 2004 4,422

Speeding (Motorcyclists)

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to reduce the chances of motorcyclists being charged for speeding on the basis of inaccurate evidence; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Evidence of speeding for possible use in court must be provided by equipment that has been type-approved by the Home Secretary. No equipment receives type approval unless it has successfully passed rigorous and comprehensive tests both operationally and in the laboratory. No specific test is prescribed that involves motorcycles, or any other particular sort of vehicle, because they are not considered to present any distinct problems. The operational tests do, however, involve measuring the speed of any passing traffic including motorcycles. The Home Office are wholly satisfied that when used in accordance with their type approval, the manufacturers' instructions and the Code of Practice issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers all type approved devices are accurate and reliable on motorcycles and in the evidence they produce.

Television Sets

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many television sets are in operation in the Department (a) in total, (b) in Ministers' private offices and (c) in each building in the Department; and how many television licences are held by the Department.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport has 218 television sets. There is one television in the office of each Minister and one in the private office of each Minister. The breakdown on the number of television sets in each building has been placed in the Libraries of the House. 69 television licences are held by the Department.
	The number of television sets will not in all cases strictly correspond to the number of licences held because of Crown exemption in situations where the equipment is used for official purposes.
	Data have not been provided for the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department, as the requested information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Football (Role Models)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what responses she received to her letter of 2004 to football club chairmen on reminding them of the responsibility players have as positive role models.

Richard Caborn: The purpose of my letter of 9 August 2004 to the chairmen of the 92 Premier and Football League clubs was to remind them of the huge impact football can have on wider society.
	No formal response was required. However, those chairmen who did respond agreed with the sentiments expressed in my letter and assured me that they would take the opportunity to convey my message to both their players and manager.

Olympic Games

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on progress with site assembly at the Olympic Park and planned changes to the configuration of the park;
	(2)  what recent discussions her Department has had with the Reuben Brothers on site assembly at the Olympic Park; and what assessment she has made of the future options for site assembly.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 24 April 2006
	Good progress continues to be made in assembling the land for the Olympic Park. More than 80 per cent. of the land needed is already in public authority control. The London Development Agency (LDA) is responsible for the process of land assembly and its preferred option for acquiring land continues to be through reaching private agreements with landowners. Given the size and complexity of the site, the LDA has decided that it is necessary to exercise its powers of compulsory acquisition so as to be sure of securing possession of the land when required. A Public Inquiry for this Compulsory Purchase Order will begin on 9 May 2006.
	The Olympic Delivery Authority are continuing to test and validate their plans to ensure that they can deliver the best Games and legacy facilities. No wholesale changes are being proposed, but there may be some adjustments to the layout of facilities within the existing Olympic Park area. Any such changes are likely to be announced before the summer.
	The Department has had no discussions with the Reuben Brothers on the process of land assembly.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy toexclude counselling for abortion and abortifacient birth control to school pupils; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Government support the provision of school-based health services where the school identifies a need. The decision to provide such services, and the content of that service, is for the individual school governing body in consultation with pupils, parent and the wider school community.

Capital Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total capital expenditure has been for each school in the 100 (a) primary and (b) secondary schools with the (i) highest and (ii) lowest percentage of children receiving free school meals in the past 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: Capital allocations are made on a local authority basis, and information is not held centrally on individual schools. Expenditure on individual schools is determined by each local authority in accordance with priorities set out in its asset management plan, utilising funding allocated by the Department for Education and Skills and other sources available to the local authority.
	Capital allocations from the Department to local authorities in England have increased from less than 700 million in 199697 to a planned 6.3 billion in 200708, rising to 8 billion by 201011.

Class Sizes

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State forEducation and Skills what the average (a) class size and (b) pupil to teacher ratio was in (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools in (A) Taunton constituency, (B) Somerset and (C) England in each year since 1992.

Jacqui Smith: The following table provides the average class size and pupil-teacher ratios in maintained primary and secondary schools in Taunton constituency, Somerset local authority and in England, January 1992 to 2005, the latest information available.
	Pupil-teacher ratio information prior to 1997 is not available at constituency level.
	
		Average class size(2) and pupil-teacher ratios(3) in maintained primary and secondary(4) schools in Taunton constituency, Somerset local authority and England: January of each year
		
			  1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 
		
		
			 Taunton constituency 
			 Average class size 
			 Primary n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 28.3 28.8 
			 Secondary n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 23.4 24.4 
			 Pupil-teacher ratio 
			 Primary n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 23.7 24.5 
			 Secondary n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 17.9 17.9 
			 
			 Somerset local authority 
			 Average class size 
			 Primary 26.8 27.0 26.9 27.0 27.3 27.6 27.8 
			 Secondary 21.4 21.5 22.1 22.5 23.2 23.2 23.9 
			 Pupil-teacher ratio 
			 Primary 22.3 22.5 22.6 22.6 23.2 23.5 23.9 
			 Secondary 16.0 16.3 16.6 17.0 18.0 18.0 18.1 
			 
			 England
			 Average class size 
			 Primary 26.4 26.6 26.9 27.1 27.3 27.5 27.7 
			 Secondary 20.6 20.9 21.4 21.5 21.7 21.7 21.7 
			 Pupil-teacher ratio 
			 Primary 22.2 22.4 22.7 22.9 23.2 23.4 23.7 
			 Secondary 15.8 16.1 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.9 
		
	
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Taunton constituency
			 Average class size
			 Primary 28.9 28.4 27.1 26.5 26.4 26.3 25.8 
			 Secondary 24.3 24.5 25.4 25.1 25.2 25.1 24.6 
			 Pupil-teacher ratio
			 Primary 24.7 23.9 22.8 22.2 22.6 22.3 21.5 
			 Secondary 18.3 18.6 18.9 18.7 19.0 18.4 18.0 
			 
			 Somerset local authority
			 Average class size
			 Primary 28.0 27.6 26.9 26.0 26.2 26.1 25.8 
			 Secondary 23.9 23.6 23.9 23.5 23.5 23.6 23.3 
			 Pupil-teacher ratio
			 Primary 24.3 23.7 22.9 22.2 22.1 22.2 21.9 
			 Secondary 18.4 18.6 18.5 18.2 18.2 18.1 17.9 
			 
			 England
			 Average class size
			 Primary 27.5 27.1 26.7 26.3 26.3 26.2 26.2 
			 Secondary 21.9 22.0 22.0 21.9 21.9 21.8 21.7 
			 Pupil-teacher ratio
			 Primary 23.5 23.3 22.9 22.5 22.6 22.7 22.5 
			 Secondary 17.0 17.2 17.1 16.9 17.0 17.0 16.7 
		
	
	(2)Classes taught during the one selected period in each school on the day of census in January.
	(3)The within-school PTR is calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of qualified teachers regularly employed in schools.
	(4)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	n/a=Not available.
	Source:
	Annual School Census

Early-years Education

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whether the levels of guaranteed unit of funding per child for free nursery education places in 200607 will take into account the increased entitlement for nursery education to 38 weeks per year;
	(2)  what criteria the Department used to allocate guaranteed unit of funding per child for free nursery education places in 200506;
	(3)  what the guaranteed unit of funding per child was for free nursery education places in Nottinghamshire for (a) 200506 and (b) 200607.

Jacqui Smith: For 200506, the Schools Formula Spending Share (FSS) system was used to distribute resources for nursery education between local authorities. The formula for under 5s used pupil numbers, weighted for deprivation, area costs and sparsity to divide up the overall total of resources for under 5s. That resulted in a unit of funding for under 5s of 2,980 for Nottinghamshire. For 200607, the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) replaced Schools FSS, and 82 million was added to the total of DSG to fund the increased entitlement for nursery education from 33 weeks to 38 weeks per year. DSG has a single unit of funding for all pupils from 3 to 15: the baseline figure for Nottinghamshire for 200506 was 3,246 per pupil; and the figure for 200607 is 3,457 per pupil, which takes account of the additional funding for the increased entitlement for nursery education.

Examinations (Permitted Languages)

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in what languages other than English examinations may be taken; and how many students took examinations in a language other than English in each of the last eight years.

Jacqui Smith: Examinations leading to general qualifications offered by the three England-based unitary awarding bodies must normally be taken in the medium of English, except where competency in another language is being examined, for example, in the case of modern foreign languages. A very small number of students also take some examinations with those awarding bodies in the medium of Welsh or Irish (Gaeilge), but information about the numbers is not collected centrally.

List 99

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts), of 20 January 2006, Official Report, column 1622W, on List 99, on what basis her Department's policy not to identify anyone below Secretary of State level was formulated; and if she will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: All ER 2, recognised the principle of delegation but stated that,
	The Minister is responsible. It is he who must answer before Parliament for anything that his officials [and junior Ministers] have done under his authority.

Pupil Expenditure

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent per pupil in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) England, (ii) Hull and (iii) East Riding in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The following table contains the available information:
	
		
			  Primary school based expenditure per pupil1 () Secondary school based expenditure per pupil(5) () Combined local authority and school based expenditure per pupil(6) () 
		
		
			 City of Kingston upon Hull 2,990 4,030 4,160 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,760 3,510 3,800 
			 England 2,910 3,800 4,140 
		
	
	(5)School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by local authority schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. The pupil data are drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	(6)Combined local authority and school based expenditure includes all expenditure on the education of children in local authority maintained establishments and pupils educated by the authority other than in maintained establishments. This includes both school based expenditure and all elements of central LA expenditure except youth and community and capital expenditure from revenue (CERA). Certain elements of central local authority expenditure cannot be attributed to a particular phase of education and consequently a sector breakdown is not available. Pupil figures include all pre-primary pupils, including those under 5s funded by the authority and being educated in private settings (only available from 199900), pupils educated in maintained mainstream schools and any other local authority maintained pupils. All pupil numbers are adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	Notes:
	200405 figures are as reported by local authorities in their section 52 outturn statements as at 20 April 2006 and are subject to change. All figures are shown in cash terms and rounded to the nearest 10.

Pupil:teacher Ratios

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the pupil to teacher ratio has been in West Lancashire (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year since 1980.

Jacqui Smith: The following table provides the pupil teacher ratios in maintained nursery and primary and secondary schools in west Lancashire constituency, in each January from 1997 to 2005, the latest information available.
	Pupil to teacher ratio information prior to 1997 is not available at constituency level.
	
		Pupil-teacher ratios(7) in maintained primary and secondary schools in West Lancashire constituency: January of each year
		
			  Nursery and Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 1997 23.4 16.7 
			 1998 23.3 17.1 
			 1999 22.8 16.9 
			 2000 23.2 16.6 
			 2001 22.5 16.8 
			 2002 21.2 16.4 
			 2003 20.9 16.8 
			 2004 20.9 16.2 
			 2005 21.2 15.6 
		
	
	(7)The within-school PTR is calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of qualified teachers regularly employed in schools.
	Source:
	Annual School Census

School Admissions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2006, Official Report, column 888W, on school admissions, what powers (a) schools adjudicators and (b) admissions forums will have to ask for details of admissions other than in response to objections.

Jacqui Smith: The provisions set out in clause 42 of the Education and Inspections Bill will permit the schools adjudicator to consider any aspect of a school's admission arrangements in addition to the aspect which is the subject of the objection. The Bill does not give the adjudicator any power to consider schools' admission arrangements where he has not received an objection.
	Admission forums have a different remit. They are required by regulations to give advice to admission authorities on their admission arrangements, and where this advice is not followed, clause 38(8) of the Bill will enable them to refer objections to the adjudicator. As part of this process, they should see all local schools' admission arrangements and will be able to request these where they have not been supplied.
	Admission forums will also be able to prepare and publish reports on how well an area's admission arrangements engender fair access and work in the interests of parents and children. The local authority, neighbouring local authorities, and admission authorities in their area will be required by regulations to provide the admission forum with any information they hold that will enable them to produce their report.

School Music Facilities

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding her Department has made available for school music facilities in (a) Kingston upon Hull and (b) Hull North in each academic year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The answer to my hon. Friend's question on school sport facilities (64103) addresses the issue of capital funding allocations.
	In addition, since 1999 we have provided considerable revenue funding support for music provision through Music Standards Fund (MSF) allocations to local authorities. The purpose of the MSF is to enhance opportunities for pupils to access musical education of high quality.
	(a) Since 1999 the following Music Standards Fund payments have been made to Kingston-upon-Hull:
	
		
			  Allocation () 
		
		
			 19992000 512,000 
			 200001 512,000 
			 200102 512,000 
			 200203 512,000 
			 200304 522,000 
			 200405 512,000 
			 200506 522,000 
			 200607 522,000 
		
	
	The allocations for 200304, 200506 and 200607 include an additional 10,000 for the development of a Kingston-upon-Hull Wider Opportunities programme. The allocation to Kingston-upon-Hull's music services for 200708 will be 512,000.
	In addition, in December 2005 we announced an increase of 30 million over the years 200607 and 200708, intended specifically to support instrumental and vocal tuition for Key Stage 2 pupils. Of the 3 million available for 200607, 16,533 has been allocated to Kingston-upon-Hull schools. In 200708 the allocation will be 126,750.
	(b) We do not hold figures for how much of the funding allocated to Kingston-upon-Hull was spent on school music provision in Hull North.

Skills Training

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people aged (a) 30 to 39 years, (b) 40 to 49 years and (c) 50 years and over received skills training in (i) Hull North constituency and (ii) Kingston-upon-Hull in each year since 1997.

Phil Hope: The following table shows the numbers of non-academic long courses of more than 24 weeks duration undertaken in Hull North and in Kingston-upon-Hull by academic years and for the age bands requested.
	
		
			  Hull North Kingston-upon-Hull(8) 
			  3039 4049 50+ 3039 4049 50+ 
		
		
			 1997/98 800 530 364 2,590 1,648 1,083 
			 1998/99 877 501 343 2,720 1,604 1,126 
			 1999/2000 777 480 389 2,432 1,528 1,163 
			 2000/01 727 500 436 2,271 1,514 1,255 
			 2001/02 856 592 527 2,645 1,777 1.469 
			 2002/03 999 688 564 2,902 2,050 1,680 
			 2003/04 872 632 531 2,533 1,904 1,637 
			 2004/05 876 630 538 2,565 1,885 1,640 
		
	
	(8)Figures for Kingston-upon-Hull include Kingston-upon-Hull North. The other Kingston-upon-Hull constituencies are Kingston-upon-Hull East and Kingston-upon-Hull West and Hessle.
	Source:
	Individual Student Record 1997/98 to 2001/02 and Individual Learner Record 2002/03 to 2004/05.

Teachers

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provisions exist for the (a) suspension and (b) banning of teachers (i) accused and (ii) convicted of sexual assault.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 24 April 2006
	All LEAs and educational establishments should have procedures for dealing with allegations against staff that aim to strike a balance between the need to protect children from abuse, and the need to protect staff and volunteers from false or unfounded accusations. Any decision to suspend or dismiss a teacher is taken locally, School Staffing (England) Regulations 2003 give both the governing body and the head teacher the power to suspend any person employed or engaged to work at the school. Usually such action is agreed by the governing body, though where a decision should not be delayed, the head teacher may use their discretion to remove a teacher by suspending or terminating their employment with immediate effect.
	Employers have a statutory duty, under the Education (Restriction of Employment) Regulations 2000, to make a report to my Department when a person is dismissed from employment on the grounds of misconduct or resigns in circumstances which would have led to their dismissal if they had not resigned. With the support of the panel of experts chaired by Sir Roger Singleton Panel it is then the responsibility of the Secretary of State to consider whether to prohibit the person from working with children in the future by placing them on List 99.
	Where an individual who states they are employed to teach or work with children is convicted of a sexual assault, the police also report this for consideration. A number of convictions are considered sufficiently serious to warrant an immediate and automatic bar from working with children'an offence contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sexual assault)'is a conviction that would result in an automatic bar from teaching.

Teachers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment her Department has made of the number of (a) male and (b) female teachers in (i) Southend, (ii) Essex, (iii) Greater London and (iv) England who left the profession as a result of stress in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collect centrally.
	Research into the factors affecting teachers' decisionsto leave the profession, commissioned by the Department and published in 2003, found that stress was cited as 'of great importance' by around 37 per cent. of primary leavers and around 34 per cent. of secondary leavers in England in calendar year 2002. The full report can be found at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RR430.pdf
	The Department has looked closely at stress issues and tackling the sources of stress, such as excessive workload, by providing practical guidance and practical support:
	Workforce reformas well as any reduction in overall hours, reducing administration, more support staff, limits on cover and guaranteed planning, preparation and assessment time will have a positive impact.
	Encouraging better behaviour and attendanceimproving pupil behaviour has a direct impact on reducing teacher stress.
	We have also encouraged better management of teacher health matters through improved occupational health guidance for schools and LEAs, and have worked with employers directly in relation to early intervention to avoid ill-health retirements.
	We have supported the setting up of the Teacher Support Network's (TSN) telephone helpline since its launch in 1999. In March 2006, the service was expanded to provide online support as well.
	We have since November 2003 also supported the TSN's 'well-being' pilot in London schools, which focuses on sustainable improvements in staff well-being and the development of management practices aimed at creating healthy workplaces.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Affordable Dwellings

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average (a) land cost and (b) building cost was for an affordable dwelling in each region in England in the most recent year for which information is available.

Yvette Cooper: The following table shows the average land cost and works cost in each Government office region in 200304 through Social Housing Grant via the Housing Corporation for new build schemes only.
	
		
		
			  Average 
			 Region Land cost Works cost 
		
		
			 East Midlands 26,283 50,344 
			 Eastern 23,465 71,470 
			 London 40,779 90,392 
			 Merseyside 6,455 71,629 
			 North East 6,912 68,533 
			 North West 9,988 70,876 
			 South East 30,034 70,481 
			 South West 19,238 67,888 
			 West Midlands 16,343 61,405 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 7,599 71,927 
		
	
	Source:
	Housing Corporation
	Includes projects for social rent, intermediate rent and sale through Approved Development Programme and Local Authority Social Housing Grant.

Compulsory Purchase

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many compulsory purchase orders have been made in each year since 1991, broken down by region.

Yvette Cooper: Data on compulsory purchase orders is not available for the whole of this period. The following table sets out the number of confirmed CPOs submitted by local authorities from 1994 to 2005.
	
		Confirmed local authority compulsory purchase orders
		
			 Region 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 East Midlands 6 9 7 6 8 .5 6 5 3 3 3 24 
			 East of England 3 6 4 5 2 4 4 10 4 9 4 5 
			 London 9 10 21 16 22 23 27 22 22 15 33 24 
			 North East 10 7 14 16 11 21 14 5 5 8 9 3 
			 North West 49 43 58 62 56 42 55 45 47 39 48 29 
			 South East 11 8 7 10 11 13 10 5 2 4 3 3 
			 South West 4 6 15 7 2 2 4 3 4 5 4 6 
			 West Midlands 13 12 17 31 34 24 12 13 19 17 16 12 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 13 5 15 10 17 13 ~0 7 12 6 8 3 
			 Total 118 106 158 163 163 147 135 115 118 106 128 109

E-enabling

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the level of take-up for individual e-enabled local government services is recorded.

Phil Woolas: Data on the level of website usage and take-up of selected e-enabled local government services is collected from individual local authorities in England as part of implementing electronic Government returns. The results from IEG6 statements in April 2006 are currently being analysed. The results from IEG5 statements in December 2005 show that in 200506 local authorities accepted 2.7 million online e-payment transactions and 24,000 online planning applications, whilst over 13 million people now visit local authority websites each month.
	In addition, research activity commissioned as part of the ODPM take-up campaign due to launch nationally on 8 May 2006 will monitor levels of citizen awareness and take-up of local government e-services.

Homelessness

Graham Stuart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households were classified as homeless in (a) Beverley and Holderness, (b) London and (c) England in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level. The constituency of Beverley and Holderness is contained within the East Riding of Yorkshire district council.
	The Government are committed to reducing homelessness and halving the number of households in temporary accommodation by 2010. Its strategy for achieving this is set out in Sustainable Communities: settled homes; changing lives.
	The number of households accepted by the district council as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need for each year since 1996,and the number of households in temporary accommodation arranged by the council under homelessness legislation as at 31 December in each year is tabled as follows. Information is also collected on the number of people who sleep roughthat is, those who are literally roofless on a single nightand these are also presented in the table.
	The duty owed to a person accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomesavailable. As an alternative to the provision of temporary accommodation some authorities arrange for households to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
	
		Households accepted(9) as homeless during the year, households in temporary accommodation(10)at the end of the year, and numbers of rough sleepers(11)
		
			  East Riding of Yorkshire district council London 
			  Households accepted during the year Households in TA as at 31 December Rough sleepers Households accepted during the year Households in TA as at 31 December Rough sleepers 
		
		
			 1996(12) (13) 6 (13) 25,730 24,600 (13) 
			 1997 247 62 (13) 24,370 25,120 (13) 
			 1998 318 56 0 26,310 29,120 621 
			 1999 283 53 0 28,380 35,900 635 
			 2000 320 48 2 28,230 41,540 546 
			 2001 332 59 2 30,590 44,970 357 
			 2002 462 37 0 28,830 51,030 321 
			 2003 503 44 0 30,510 56,950 267 
			 2004 462 38 0 28,050 61,670 265 
			 2005 440 72 0 22,700 63,800 221 
		
	
	
		
			  England 
			  Households accepted during the year Households in TA as at 31 December Rough sleepers 
		
		
			 1996 113,590 42,220 (13) 
			 1997 102,000 44,870 (13) 
			 1998 104,630 53,790 1,850 
			 1999 105,370 62,180 1,633 
			 2000 111,340 73,080 1,180 
			 2001 117,830 77,510 703 
			 2002 123,840 85,140 596 
			 2003 135,590 94,610 504 
			 2004 127,770 101,030 508 
			 2005 100,170 98,730 459 
		
	
	(9)All households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category, and consequently owed a main homelessness duty.
	(10)Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting allocation of a settled home following acceptance. Excludes those households designated as homeless at home that have remained in their existing accommodation and have the same rights to suitable alternative accommodation as those in accommodation arranged by the authority.
	(11)Number of persons sleeping rough, based on local authority mid-year counts or estimates. Data not collected prior to 1998.
	(12)Reflects households accepted and housed under homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act; subsequent years includes cases accepted under the 1996 Housing Act.
	(13)Denotes data not available.
	Source:
	ODPM P1E Homelessness returns (quarterly) and HSSA returns (annual).

Key Worker Initiative

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whatassessment he has made of the (a) take-up and (b) occupation rates of accommodation built under the Government's key worker initiative scheme.

Yvette Cooper: As at 28 February 2006, 2,817 new homes have been provided through the Key Worker Living programme. Of these 65 per cent. have been taken up and are occupied with a further 8 per cent. reserved/under offer.
	Where there are vacant units the reasons for these vary from scheme to scheme but to date common features include:
	many units have been only recently completed and are just being marketed
	some units have been affected by market conditions including competition from developers who are offering large discounts on private units as a short term expedient to shift their stock
	limited eligibility criteria in some parts of the country
	failure of some RSLs to effectively market the units
	To address this, the eligibility criteria for all Key Worker Living new build units was expanded from 14 November to include:
	all clinical NHS staff (except doctors and dentists),
	teachers in schools, further education and sixth form colleges,
	police officers and community support officers,
	uniformed staff in Fire and Rescue Services,
	prison and probation service staff,
	social workers, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, rehabilitation officers for the visually impaired and qualified nursery nurses,
	local authority employed clinical staff (e.g. nurses) and;
	local authority planners.
	In addition Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) can consider grant neutral changes to tenure and expanded eligibility criteria.
	In addition 23 new Homebuy Agents are now in place across the country to improve marketing and information to first time buyers. This will make it easier for first time buyers and key workers to find out about local schemes, and also for RSLs to respond in a more flexible and informed way to local demand.

National Affordable Housing Programme (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding is available for temporary to permanent housing initiatives in the 2006 to 2008 National Affordable Housing Programme, in Coventry; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: At present no funds have been made available in Coventry for temporary to permanent housing initiatives through the Affordable Housing Programme 200608.
	ODPM supports innovative schemes which provide settled housing solutions for households in temporary accommodation. Where these schemes offer value for money but require capital investment ODPM would encourage regional housing boards to support bids for Affordable Housing Programme funding.

Overcrowed Accommodation (Lancashire)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) households and (b) children in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Ribble Valley are living in overcrowded accommodation.

Yvette Cooper: There are two measures of overcrowdingthe statutory definition and the bedroom standard.
	The most recent estimate of the number of households failing the bedroom standard in Lancashire county is 10,000. This is taken from an ad hoc report based on combined data from both ODPM's 'Survey of English Housing' and the Department of Work and Pension's 'Family Resources Survey' for the three years 200001, 200102 and 200203.
	Reliable estimates for the number of children living in overcrowded accommodation in Lancashire are not available. Separate data for Ribble Valley are also not available.
	A one-off estimate was made in the autumn of 2001 that there were approximately 25,000 households across the whole of England that were in conditions of overcrowding that breached the statutory standard. This estimate was based on data from the 'Survey of English Housing' for the period 199798 to 19992000 and from the 1996 'English House Condition Survey'.

Recycling (Swindon)

Michael Wills: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much funding Swindon borough council received to support recycling in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	Swindon borough council have received the following funding in respect of waste minimisation and recycling since 1997.
	200506
	40,000 CA site grant from the Waste Resources and Action Programme (WRAP)
	19,923.80 for Direct Consultancy Support from the Local Authority Support Unit.
	142,622.94 allocated from the Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant (WPEG)
	I can additionally confirm that they have been allocated 378,206.25 from WPEG in the forthcoming 200607 financial year and will be receiving 396,244.28 in 200708.

Right to Buy

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of right to buy receipts were (a) paid to his Department and (b) retained by councils in each year since 1997; and how much of the total revenue was spent on housing.

Yvette Cooper: The following table shows total capital receipts from right-to-buy sales of local authority dwellings in England in the years 199798 onwards. The figures are net of discount and are as reported by local authorities.
	The table also shows the value of housing capital receipts set-aside by local authorities to repay debt. Until the introduction of the pooling regime in 200405, set-aside was the mechanism that allowed a proportion of housing capital receipts to be redistributed for investment elsewhere.
	As can be seen from the following table, since 1997 the Government have consistently invested more in housing than they have received in receipts. In 200405 the amount paid to Government from all housing receipts (not just right to buy) was 1.7 billion. The amount invested in housing was 4.1 billion i.e. almost 2 times the amount received in receipts. The ratio is expected to increase substantially in the future.
	
		
			  Total housing capital receipts ( million) Set aside/pooling (million) Set aside/pooling as percentage of housing capital receipts Capital investment ( million) Investment greater than set-aside/pooling by  million 
		
		
			 199798 1,438 943 66 1,894 951 
			 199899 1,630 1,085 67 2,098 1,013 
			 19992000 2,249 1,477 66 2,173 696 
			 200001 2,441 1,626 67 2,866 1,240 
			 200102 2,244 1,382 62 2,696 1,314 
			 200203 3,474 1,626 47 2,943 1,317 
			 200304 3,622 No data n/a 3,964 n/a 
			 200405 3,193 1,700 53 4,135 2,435 
			 200506 No data (14)840 n/a (15)5,223 4,383 
			 200607 No data (14)801 n/a (15)5,347 4,546 
			 200708 No data (14)753 n/a (15)5,665 4,912 
		
	
	(14)Estimated pooled housing capital receipts.
	(15)Programmed expenditure.
	Note:
	Pooling replaced set-aside as the mechanism to invest housing capital receipts in 200405.

Supporting People

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget of the Supporting People programme was for (a) north Yorkshire and (b) city of York in (i)200506 and (ii) 200607.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is set out in the tables.
	
		North Yorkshire -- 000
		
			  Supporting People Programme Grant Supporting People Administration Grant 
		
		
			 200506 15,584,012 385,412 
			 200607 15,274,485 385,412 
		
	
	
		City of York -- 000
		
			  Supporting People Programme Grant Supporting People Administration Grant 
		
		
			 200506 8,640,941 243,102 
			 200607 8,436,979 243,102

Supporting People

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of the reduced level of funding for the Supporting People programme on (a) homelessness, (b) social inclusion and (c) social welfare in (i) west Yorkshire and (ii) city of York.

Phil Woolas: Supporting People grant funding is paid to local authorities to enable the provision of housing-related support for vulnerable people. All authorities are expected to manage their funding effectively and efficiently, based on local needs and priorities. To support and provide a platform for that, authorities have been required to review all of their existing services and to develop a five year strategy for their local programme. Within this context, it is for individual authorities to decide how to appropriately manage any changes in funding.

World Cup (Complimentary Tickets)

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complimentary tickets his Department has received for games taking place at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany.

Jim Fitzpatrick: None.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Swaziland/Lesotho

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the withdrawal of the high commissioner from Swaziland and Lesotho.

Ian Pearson: We enjoy full diplomatic relations with the Governments of Lesotho and Swaziland. The right hon. Paul Boateng, our high commissioner in Pretoria, is accredited as non-resident high commissioner to both countries. We also maintain regular contact with the high commissioners of Lesotho and Swaziland in London.

Mauritania

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Mauritanian Government on the illegal immigrants coming to the UK from Mauritanian ports.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with Mauritania on this subject. The Government take illegal migration seriously. Engaging with source and transit countries in Africa on migration was a priority for our EU presidency.
	The UK has offered to co-fund with the European Commission, through a contribution of 81,000, a UNHCR project in Mauritania, which aims to improve Mauritanian capacity to manage migration.

European Constitution

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his plans for a referendum on any new treaty establishing a constitution for Europe.

Douglas Alexander: The Government have made it clear that the EU constitutional treaty will only be ratified in the UK after a referendum of the British people. There is no other treaty, so discussion of other referendums would merely be abstract speculation. The EU needs to continue its focus on delivering economic reform and tackling the challenges of globalisation.

Sudan

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to impose sanctions on the Government of Sudan in response to alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Ian Pearson: The UK is a leading proponent of sanctions against those who violate human rights or impede the peace process in Darfur. We have identified several individuals from all sides to the conflict who we believe meet this criteria and have proposed to the Security Council that they face targeted sanctions under UN Security Council resolution 1591. We hope that a Security Council resolution imposing these measures will be passed within a day or so.

Middle East

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards Islamist organisations in the middle east.

Kim Howells: There are a wide variety of Islamist organisations in the middle east. We encourage political groups to pursue their agendas within the democratic process and to embrace universal principles of human rights, including the rejection of violence as a means to achieving political objectives.

Middle East

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel on Israel's occupation of Palestinian land as defined by the 1967 boundaries.

Kim Howells: The territory which Israel occupied in June 1967 remains occupied territory. UN Security Council resolution 242 (1967), which the UK supported, calls for the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the conflict. The building of settlements and the barrier on this land are both illegal. We have made our concerns clear to the Israeli Government.
	The final determination of borders is for both parties to negotiate.

Middle East

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of Hamas; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We have had no recent discussions with representatives of Hamas.

Iran

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: I refer to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave earlier.

Iran

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in frequent contact with the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and his staff concerning Iran's nuclear programme. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary most recently spoke to Dr. El-Baradei on 14 April.
	The United Nations Security Council has asked Dr. El-Baradei to report by 28 April on Iran's compliance with the measures required by the IAEA Board of Governors. The Security Council will consider next steps after that.

Kashmir

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Pakistan and India about Kashmir.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly discusses a broad range of issues, including Kashmir, with the Governments of both India and Pakistan. He discussed Kashmir with President Musharraf during his visit to Islamabad on 14 February 2005 and with the then Indian Foreign Minister, Natwar Singh, during the latter's visit to London on 27 June 2005.

Kosovo

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the talks on the final status of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: We continue to support the status process led by UN Status Envoy, Martti Ahtisaari. We are encouraging both Belgrade and Pristina to engage constructively in this process.
	My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, chaired a ministerial contact group meeting in London on 31 January. The statement which issued forms the basis for the British Government's approach to the Kosovo status process. It has been placed in the Library of the House.

Kosovo

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future governance of Kosovo.

Douglas Alexander: The future governance of Kosovo is an issue that will be determined by the United Nations-led status process. The former President of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, has been appointed the UN status envoy and is leading this political process on behalf of the international community. On 31 January 2006 in London, a Ministerial Contact Group statement emphasised that a multi-ethnic settlement is the only workable option. A copy of the statement has been placed in the Library of the House. Contact Group Ministers (United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Russia together with representatives of the European Union) also re-stated the international community's willingness to establish, for an interim period after the settlement, appropriate civilian and military structures to help ensure compliance with the settlement's provisions.

Kosovo

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the movement of people in and out of Kosovo since the commencement of NATO action there.

Douglas Alexander: During the NATO campaign, persecution by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia military led to the temporary exodus of over 500,000 Kosovo-Albanian refugees moving to Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania. Shortly after the campaign ended a large majority of those Kosovo-Albanian refugees returned. However, after the end of the campaign an estimated 65,000 to 70,000 Kosovo Serbs left Kosovo.
	Since 1999 the overall numbers of Kosovo-Serbs, previously displaced from their homes, returning to Kosovo has remained disappointingly low. Uncertainty over the outcome of the final status process and its impact on the sustainability of returns create significant disincentives to return to Kosovo. Economic security remains very limited. Weak property rights protection, discouragement from the authorities in Belgrade and shortages of social housing all contribute to an atmosphere of uncertainty and insecurity. We are encouraging Kosovo's Provisional Institutions to take the essential actions necessary to enable those who wish to return to do so and create an environment conducive to facilitate returns. We are also urging the Government in Belgrade to sign the protocol on returns agreed in September 2005.

Colombia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with (a) the Secretary of State for Defence and (b) others about (i) human rights and (ii) the personal security of trade unionists in Colombia.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary about these issues. However, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, with responsibility for Latin America, has discussed human rights, including the legitimate security concerns of Colombian trade unionists, with both British and Colombian trade unionists on 6 March and 6 February respectively. He has also raised human rights in discussions with the Colombian Vice-President on 28 November 2005, the Colombian embassy in London and non-governmental organisations. Human rights are at the heart of our policy towards Colombia. We will continue to work with our EU partners, the Colombian Government and other stakeholders, including civil society, to help improve the human rights situation there. Our embassy in Bogota is actively pursuing this objective.

Colombia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Colombia about the murder of trade unionists in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Through our embassy in Bogota we frequently raise human rights issues, including the murder of trade unionists, with the Colombian authorities. We also sponsored a visit to the UK. by a group of senior Colombian trade unionists in February to demonstrate support to Colombian unions. We believe and have consistently stated that civil society, including trade unionists, human rights defenders and community leaders, have an important role to play in helping tackle Colombia's inter-linked problems of internal armed conflict, illegal drugs trade and human rights abuses. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, with responsibility for Latin America, raised the importance of respect for human rights and the role of civil society when he met Vice-President Santos of Colombia in London in November 2005.

Craig Alden (Imprisonment)

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by the Government regarding the imprisonment of Craig Alden in Brazil; and if he will make a statement on the UK Government's position on the case.

Douglas Alexander: On 30 March 2005, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to the Brazilian Foreign Minister in support of Craig Alden's application for Presidential Expulsion. The Brazilians rejected this application. Both my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, who is responsible for Consular matters in Latin America, have subsequently raised Mr. Alden's case with their Brazilian counterparts on a number of occasions asking that they take account of the human rights issues involved in Mr. Alden's case. Most recently, my noble Friend Lord Triesman of Tottenham raised Mr. Alden's case with the Brazilian Foreign Minister in March 2006.
	Since his arrest, Mr. Alden and his family have expressed concerns over his safety while in prison. We have taken his fears about his safety seriously and officials from our Embassy in Brasilia have made numerous successful representations to the Brazilian authorities, requesting that he remain apart from other prisoners.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office remains completely impartial in respect of the substance of any allegations against Mr. Alden. However, we share the concerns about the fairness of his trial, which we continue to raise with the Brazilian government.

Equal Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are undertaken within his Department to ensure that women are obtaining equal pay to men doing work of equal value.

Jack Straw: As part of the 200508 pay settlement for delegated grades, agreed in November 2005, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) agreed with the Trade Union Side (TUS) to undertake annual Equal Pay Audits and to review the findings on completion with the TUS. The first of these will be carried out during 2006.
	The FCO last carried out an Equal Pay Audit in 2003. The conclusions were that the overall picture on mean salaries within bands for full-time employees is within the 5 per cent. tolerance set out by the Equal Opportunities Commission; women do not seem to be less favourably treated than men in the way they are allocated to, or progress through, the salary scale and within each band the distribution of performance ratings is in proportion to the general split.

Exercise Exploring Themis

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) lessons were learnt and (b) improvements were made to UK maritime security following Exercise Exploring Themis in November 2005.

Kim Howells: 15 nations took part in this UK exercise in November 2005 as part of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). The exercise identified a number of lessons, with extensive and valuable feedback provided by participating nations. The need for appropriate and timely access to information from a range of sources reinforced the importance of cross-government involvement from the outset. Sharing of information between PSI nations was also shown to be vital, highlighting the need for secure and reliable communications channels to be established. Almost all nations commented on the need to continue to improve inter-departmental operations and awareness within their own governments. A number of important issues were raised which will be examined in future PSI exercises, such as the disposition of cargo after an interdiction and how the Suppression of Unlawful Acts at Sea protocols will affect the legal basis for interdiction. The cost effectiveness and benefits of running a federated exercise in national capitals showed that this way of hosting exercises could reduce the cost without compromising the high standards associated with PSI events.
	The UK has benefited a great deal from running Exercise Exploring Themis and from our involvement in other PSI exercises. The main benefits have been improved intra-Government co-ordination, better understanding of the legal environment and improved technical abilities, such as communications. These factors have all contributed to improved UK maritime security. The exercise also enabled governments from 15 nations to co-ordinate their efforts to address potential future weapons of mass destruction proliferation threats. Effective joint international action helps to address maritime security for UK shipping outside UK territorial waters.

Hindu Persecution (Moscow)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Russian Government about discrimination against and persecution of Hindus in Moscow.

Douglas Alexander: I raised the situation facing Hindus in Russia, as well as other religious minorities, with Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovenko in Moscow on 30 March 2006.

Iraq

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last visited Iraq on 2 to 3 April together with the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. He met a broad range of key political figures involved in the negotiations on the formation of a new government including President Talabani, Prime Minister Ja'afari and leaders of the main Kurdish, Sunni Arab and Shia parties. He urged them to work to conclude the process as swiftly as possible in the interests of the Iraqi people.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has been contacted by the Italian authorities in relation to the export from the UK of Beretta small arms to Iraq.

Kim Howells: holding answer 9 March 2006
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is unable to confirm or deny whether we have received any such contact about an investigation in another country. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety, Hazel Blears, on 14 March 2006, Official Report, column 2114W.

Karni Crossing (Gaza)

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli government on the closure of the Karni crossing into Gaza; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Our Embassy in Tel Aviv has repeatedly expressed our concerns about the closure of the Karni crossing. The Embassy last raised it with the Head of Israel Defence Force Strategic Planning and Foreign Relations on 4 April, The Karni crossing was reopened on 12 April. It is important that access and movement is improved and we call on both parties to implement the 15 November Agreement on Movement and Access. The Israeli government has assured us that they will continue to support the transfer of humanitarian assistance by opening other crossing points to the Gaza Strip to avert a potential crisis due to lack of food and money.

Montenegro

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's position relating to the proposed referendum on independence in Montenegro.

Douglas Alexander: The referendum on Montenegrin independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro is scheduled for 21 May. The UK welcomes the agreement between the Government and the opposition in Montenegro on the standards for the referendum. The referendum should be held according to the terms of the Constitutional Charter of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and subsequent legislation.
	The UK has made clear that the whole process needs to be transparent, consensual and democratic.

Norman Kember

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether discussions took place between representatives of the Government and representatives of the kidnappers of Norman Kember prior to 21 March 2006.

Kim Howells: It is not our policy to comment publicly on the operational details of the Government's efforts to secure the release of British nationals taken hostage overseas.

Proliferation Security Initiative

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to comply with the Proliferation Security Initiative.

Kim Howells: The UK has taken a number of steps to comply with the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). We have formally committed to and publicly endorsed the PSI and its Statement of Interdiction Principles and indicated willingness to take all steps available to support PSI efforts. We have actively participated in and hosted PSI interdiction training exercises. We have undertaken a review and provided information on current national legal authorities to undertake interdictions at sea, in the air or on land. We have indicated willingness to strengthen authorities where appropriate. We have provided points of contact for PSI interdiction requests and other operational activities. We have established appropriate internal Government processes to co-ordinate PSI response efforts. We have reviewed our legal authorities and are working on adoption of the 2005 Suppression of Unlawful Acts protocols to strengthen the legal environment for interdiction. This will make it an internationally recognised offence to transport weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems and related materials on commercial vessels.
	We are currently examining a range of measures to deter proliferators and further raise the political and economic costs of trafficking in WMD and we will continue to take the necessary steps to strengthen our capacity to act effectively, as and when required, to take action consistent with the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles.

Tom Hurndall/James Miller

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions he has met with the family of (a) Tom Hurndall and (b) James Miller; and whether he has plans for future such meetings.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the family of James Miller on 2 June 2003 and the family of Tom Hurndall on 17 June 2003. The then Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State, with responsibility for Consular Affairs, my noble Friend right hon. Baroness Symons, met the Miller family on 18 July 2003, 6 November 2003, 5 July 2004 and 4 April 2005. She met the Hurndall family on 23 July 2003, 6 January 2004, 23 March 2004 and 18 April 2005. As the Minister responsible for Consular Affairs in the Middle East I also met the Miller family on 23 May 2005 and the Hurndall family on 11 July 2005.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is planning to meet both families again soon.

UN Human Rights Council

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the establishment of the UN Human Rights Council.

Ian Pearson: We welcomed and voted in favour of the General Assembly Resolution establishing the Human Rights Council. We believe this offers an important opportunity to improve the UN human rights machinery, but much will depend on member states showing commitment to making a fresh start. We will continue to play the fullest part possible towards the body's success and are standing for election to the Council on 9 May.

PRIME MINISTER

Scotland Act

Michael Weir: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2006, Official Report, column 2045W to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Stewart Hosie) on the Scotland Act 1998 and the announcement that the Secretary of State for Scotland has been carrying out the functions of the Advocate General for Scotland since 18 January 2006 if he will place in the Library a copy of the determination under section 87(3) of the Scotland Act 1998.

Tony Blair: Yes.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to deploy Royal Air Force Jaguar aircraft to Kandahar; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There are currently no plans to send Jaguar aircraft to Afghanistan.

Casualty Evacuation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many casualty evacuations there have been from(a) Iraq since the start of Operation Telic and (b) Afghanistan since 2001.

Adam Ingram: The latest Aeromed figures for Operation Telic are published on the MOD website.
	For the period between March 2003 to 1 January 2006, up to 4,000 UK military and civilian personnel (including a small number of Iraqis) were medically evacuated from Iraq. For the period between 1 January 2006 and 28 February 2006, 133 UK military and civilian personnel were medically evacuated from Iraq.
	The great majority of these cases were due to illness, accidental injury, routine outpatient treatment in the UK or for compassionate reasons and not as a result of hostile action.
	Since 2001, there have been 33 aeromedical evacuations from Afghanistan. The great majority of these cases were due to illness, accidental injury, routine outpatient treatment in the UK or for compassionate reasons and not as a result of hostile action.

Colombia

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much defence (a) equipment, (b) training and (c) other support has been given to the Government of Colombia in each of the last three years.

Adam Ingram: In financial years 200304 and 200405 the cost of military training assistance provided by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence to the Colombian armed forces was around 120,000 per year. This assistance covered Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training and the provision of military training and education to members of the Colombian armed forces both in Colombia and in the UK.
	In financial year 200506 the cost of military training assistance provided by the UK MOD to the Colombian armed forces was approximately 130,000. This assistance consisted in EOD training and British military education and training courses in the UK. We also supported the Colombian military justice reform process by running seminars on Rules of Engagement and study tours introducing Colombian personnel to key British defence concepts such as the need to have democratic and accountable control of the armed forces.
	The MOD has not given the Colombian armed forces any equipment over the last three years, nor has it given other support to the Government of Colombia, apart from some bespoke counter-narcotic assistance.

Departmental Expenditure

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's expenditure was on civil air travel in 200405.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence spent approximately 109.6 million on civil air travel in financial year 200405. This figure is provisional and subject to final audit.

Depleted Uranium

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been conducted since December 2004 to establish the number of UK depleted uranium shells recovered from (a) UK waters and (b) overseas waters.

Adam Ingram: The only records of the recovery of United Kingdom depleted uranium shells from the marine environment are for two recoveries from the Solway Firth. One shell was recovered from the foreshore of the Kirkcudbright Training Area in 1994 and the second was recovered from the sea during trawling in 1997.

Depleted Uranium

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment the Defence Radiological Protection Services has made of uranium in urine of military personnel and civilian employees of his Department on operations where there is a potential for exposure; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: Very small amounts of natural uranium occur in the human body from normal dietary sources. Of the several hundred United Kingdom troops and civilians who have had assessments of the level of uranium in their urine following operational deployments to areas where depleted uranium munitions have been used, 384 have been tested under the biological monitoring arrangements made by what was the Defence Radiological Protection Services and is now part of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. No depleted uranium has been detected in anyone other than a small number of personnel who received shrapnel injuries in an incident involving friendly fire.

Fast Jet Aircraft (Pilot Blackout)

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many incidents of pilots of fast jet aircraft blacking out have occurred in the past 10 years.

Adam Ingram: The number of incidents of pilots of fast-jet aircraft blacking out in the past 10 years is not held centrally by the RAF. However, in 2004 the Ministry of Defence conducted a survey of all RAF aircrew to determine the prevalence of gravity-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC). Of the 2,259 aircrew who responded to the survey, 454 (20.1 per cent.) admitted to having lost consciousness for a number of seconds following G exposure at least once during their career. There have been no recorded RAF aircraft accidents within the last 10 years where G-LOC has been a contributing factor.
	To reduce the risk of G-LOC, all RAF fast-jet pilots undergo theoretical and practical training in countering the effects of high G. Future options for high G training are under consideration.

Gulf Veterans

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans have voluntarily presented themselves to the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme in each year since 1993.

Don Touhig: The total number of veterans seen at the Gulf Veterans Medical Assessment Programme since 1993, is 3,445. This figure includes 3,275 veterans of the 1991 Gulf Conflict (Operation Granby), 136 Porton Down Volunteers, and 34 veterans of the current operation in Iraq (Operation Telic). The figures for each year since 1993 are further broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Op Granby Porton Down Op Telic 
		
		
			 1993 2   
			 1994 56   
			 1995 259   
			 1996 578   
			 1997 970   
			 1998 686   
			 1999 199   
			 2000 158   
			 2001 179 93  
			 2002 74 25  
			 2003 55 10 8 
			 2004 32 1 13 
			 2005 23 7 11 
			 2006 4  2 
			 Total 3,275 136 34

Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement of 9 March 2006, Official Report, columns 9613W, how many full-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions have indicated a preference to transfer to General Service under the terms of the package announced.

Adam Ingram: Information on how many full-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service have indicated a preference to transfer to the General Service is not yet available. Those affected have been asked to register an expression of interest through their chain of command by 30 April 2006.

Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational criteria are for decisions on whether submarines should berth at Southampton rather than Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Operational criteria as such are not generally considered when deciding which Z berth to use. The strict limitations on nuclear powered submarine operational activities at Z berths mean that these locations are used for planned crew stand-off periods, materiel re-supply and personnel changeovers only.
	It is possible that, for example during the briefing or debriefing phases of an exercise, proximity to other forces may dictate the choice of berth. But otherwise the selection is made on the basis of berth availability, submarine programme and local interference considerations.
	The decision on whether to use Portsmouth or Southampton for visits by United Kingdom nuclear powered submarines will be based on the criteria listed above.

Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what infrastructure is necessary to deal with effluent from nuclear powered submarines around Z berths; and what the (a) capital and (b) running costs are.

Adam Ingram: No infrastructure is required around Z berths to deal with radioactive effluent from operational nuclear-powered submarines as discharges of this type are prohibited at these berths.
	Other effluent, such as sewage or bilge water, is managed in the same way as for conventionally powered warships and civilian vessels, and depending on the location of the Z berth it is discharged either by direct connection to an installed shore-based facility or by tanker collection. In commercial ports the Ministry of Defence pays for effluent disposal services; these vary from port to port and generally depend on volume. In the naval bases effluent disposal facilities are shared with surface warships and the associated costs cannot therefore be identified separately.

Telephone Calls

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many minutes of free overseas telephone calls UK forces personnel are entitled to each week while on overseas tours.

Don Touhig: As part of the Operational Welfare Package, personnel serving on operations overseas are allocated 20 minutes of free telephone cards to anywhere in the world every week they are away. In addition, personnel serving over the Christmas/new year period are given an additional 20 minutes.
	Personnel who are serving in non-operational areas are granted a cost towards telephone calls as part of their local overseas allowance; this cost is to make up the difference between the overseas location and the United Kingdom towards 20 minutes worth of telephone calls.

Type 23 Frigates

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the last Type 23 Frigate is expected to leave service.

Adam Ingram: On present plans the final Type 23 Frigate, HMS St. Albans, will be withdrawn from service in 2029.

Type 23 Frigates

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Type 23 frigates will be fitted with Sonar 2087; and what the total cost of the project is expected to be.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 March 2006, Official Report, column 2150W, to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis).
	There is an operational requirement for eight of the 13 in-service Type 23 frigates to be modified to operate the Sonar 2087 system. The decision on which ships are to be modified is determined by the fitting opportunities within the frigate upkeep programme.
	The total cost of the project is currently expected to be 355 million.

Veterans Day

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many inquiries the Veterans Agency has received about organising events for Veterans Day 2006.

Don Touhig: The Veterans Agency and the Veterans Policy Unit have received over 100 telephone enquiries about organising events for Veterans Day 2006. The Veterans Policy Unit has also received eight bids for funding regional events.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Assets Recovery Agency

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list completed cases handled by the Assets Recovery Agency, broken down by year and region; and if he will make a statement on the agency's performance to date.

Paul Goggins: The number of cases completed by the Assets Recovery Agency broken down by year and region is shown in the table.
	The Assets Recovery Agency is making an effective contribution towards the recovery of criminal proceeds. Since its inception in 2003, the agency has adopted 177 civil recovery cases and 30 tax cases for investigation; and disrupted over 127 criminal enterprises with 68.45 million worth of assets subject to freezing orders. The agency has completed 35 cases with a recovery value of approximately 9.1 million and has realised receipts of around 8.34 million.
	The agency has also assisted law enforcement agencies in obtaining 13 confiscation orders with a total value of 6.4 million.
	The Centre of Excellence in the Assets Recovery Agency has delivered training in the Proceeds of Crime Act to over 2,600 financial investigators in law enforcement agencies. The agency has also successfully raised awareness of the new powers in the Act by hosting a series of conferences and presentations; and through the issue of a monthly newsletter which publicises successes in recovering the proceeds of crime.
	
		Assets recovery agency: number of completed cases(16)
		
			  Total England and Wales Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 200304 (17)0   
			 200405 12 10 2 
			 200506(18) 23 20 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	(16)Those cases that have reached final actions i.e. recovery order, final assessment or settlement.
	(17)There were no completed cases in 200304 as this was the first full operational year of the agency.
	(18)200506 performance figures are to end March 2006. Final year-end performance figures are yet to be finalised.

Correspondence

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Parliamentary Business Unit of the Immigration and Nationality Department will reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West's letter of 16 February 2006 with regard to his constituent Miss Tendai Rita Mupamhanga.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate responded to the letter from the hon. Member on 21 April 2006.

Crime Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the crime rates among migrant workers in England; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: From the information collected centrally on recorded crime it is not possible to make such an assessment. Specific details on victims and offenders are not collected.

Fixed Penalties

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the fixed penalty was for a contravention of section 89 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in each year since the Act came into force.

Hazel Blears: In 1984 the fixed penalty for exceeding the speed limit in contravention of section 89 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 was 20 and three penalty points. This was raised to 24 in 1986, 32 in 1990 and 40 in 1992. From 1 November 2000 the penalty was raised to the current level of 60. The offence is endorsable and the number of penalty points has remained at three from 1984 to date.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) average and (b) longest time has been between a prisoner being released on the Home Detention Curfew scheme and receiving their tagging device in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: Almost all offenders released on Home Detention Curfew are tagged on the day of release.
	Since 1 April 2005, the longest time taken to fit monitoring equipment to an offender released on Home Detention Curfew is eight days. This occurred in May 2005, just after the new electronic monitoring contracts started and the old ones expired.
	Figures before April 2005 are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Human Trafficking

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to protect the victims of human trafficking;
	(2)  what support is available to the victims of trafficking once discovered by the authorities.

Paul Goggins: Since March 2003 the Home Office has funded the Poppy Scheme which is run by Eaves Housing for Women. The scheme provides safe accommodation and tailored one-to-one support for adult female victims who have been trafficked to the UK and into prostitution. Support is provided on a short term basis, or for longer in return for co-operation with the relevant authorities.
	On the basis of a positive evaluation the Home Office is investing 2.4 million over the next two years to expand the excellent service provided through the Poppy Scheme. This fulfils our commitment to continue funding the core service (25 crisis spaces), and will also provide 10 additional step-down places, the first ever 24-hour national outreach service, and the development of a resource pack for victims, service providers and law enforcement agency staff.
	Assistance and support for child victims is secured through local statutory social services.

Human Trafficking

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the European Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Since negotiations began on the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings we have received a number of representations from organisations and individuals.
	The need to provide effective support to victims is a key aspect of our strategy for tackling human trafficking. We continue to consider the practical implications of signing the convention.

National Criminal Intelligence Service

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disability recruitment guidelines were used in the recruitment process for National Criminal Intelligence Service posts at the new regional office in Belfast advertised in autumn 2003.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 24 April 2006
	I refer the hon Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Nigel Dodds) on 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 377W.

Road Traffic Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances a person charged with an offence under section 89 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 would not be prosecuted; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Enforcement of the law relating to speeding offences is a matter for the police who will decide what approach is most effective in different circumstances. Prosecution may be appropriate where the offence is considered too serious for offer of a fixed penalty or may occur where a fixed penalty offer is not accepted. Decisions as to prosecution are ultimately a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.

Road Traffic Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions under section 89 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 were dropped because the alleged offender lived overseas in each year since 1996.

Hazel Blears: This information is not collected centrally. We recognise that while those living abroad can be prosecuted for this offence there are practical problems in enforcement. Measures in the Road Safety Bill currently before Parliament will help address the situation.

Security Industry Authority

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Harrington review was taken into account in the full regulatory impact assessment on the Approved Contractor Scheme published on 16 February.

Paul Goggins: As the Harrington review was not then available, it could not be taken into account when drafting the full Regulatory Impact Assessment on the Approved Contractor Scheme.

Security Industry Authority

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the review of the Security Industry Authority by Roy Harrington will be published; what the main recommendations are; and when these recommendations will be implemented.

Paul Goggins: Roy Harrington was commissioned by the Home Office to review the future strategic direction of the Security Industry Authority. Once Ministers have fully considered his report, they will make decisions on its recommendations.
	The report will be published in due course, copies will be placed in the Library and it will also be made available on the Home Office website.

Road Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent research has been carried out on the impact of atmospheric conditions on the accuracy of speed cameras; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: All speed cameras producing evidence for possible use in court have to be of a type approved by the Secretary of State. The type approval process includes tests both operationally and in the laboratory to ensure that devices will when properly used function accurately and reliably. No separate research has been undertaken. We are satisfied that all currently approved devices merit their type approved status and can be relied upon.

Road Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to use the photographs taken by speed cameras to (a) detect and (b) prosecute those seen committing an offence under (i)section 14 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and (ii) the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Enforcement of these offences is an operational matter for the police. There are no such plans of which I am aware. Speed cameras are designed and type approved only to detect vehicles exceeding the speed limit and record an image of them. Enforcement depends on the police witnessing the offences. The likelihood of this is increased by the expanded use of police intercept teams linked to the operation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems We expect enforcement of these and other motoring offences to reflect the joint Home Office/Department for Transport/Association of Chief Police Officers Roads Policing Strategy issued last year, the National Policing Plan and the National Community Safety Plan, which emphasise the importance of roads policing and encourage a pro-active approach.

Road Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the LTI20.20 mobile speed camera is used by (a) the police in (i) Southend and (ii)Essex and (b) the Metropolitan Police area; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The purchase and use of speed cameras for law enforcement purposes is a matter for individual chief officers of police. I understand, however, that this particular device is used both by Essex police, including in Southend, and by the Metropolitan Police.
	Speed cameras used by the police to produce evidence for possible use in court have to be of a type approved by the Secretary of State. The laboratory and field testing undertaken prior to the granting of type approval is designed to ensure that all type approved equipment is accurate and reliable when used in accordance with its type approval conditions, in line with the manufacturer's instructions and in accordance with the Code of Practice drawn up by the Association of Chief Police Officers. I am satisfied that all type approved speed cameras, including the LTI 20.20, merit their type approved status and are appropriate for police use.

Road Safety

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that a photograph of the alleged speeding vehicle should be sent at the same time as the summons; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The responsibility for deciding whether to disclose the photograph, or any other evidence, of a speeding offence detected by a camera rests with the chief officer of the force concerned. Any evidence, including the calibration certificate and any photograph, would, of course, be produced should a case go to court.

UK Passport Service

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2006, Official Report, column 313W, on passports, for how long the UK Passport Service's website has carried details of this policy; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: An explanatory note was added to the UK Passport Service's (UKPS) website on 14 March after the issue had been mentioned during the debate on the Identity Cards Bill the previous day. The note was omitted in error when the Identity and Passport Service website was launched on 1 April and restored on 4 April when the error was brought to our attention.
	It has always been the case that passport holders could renew passports any time before the expiry date. This is often necessary to meet the minimum passport validity required for entry to some countries.
	In response to customer complaints about losing validity when renewing early, the UKPS introduced the facility of transferring up to nine months unexpired validity from the old passport to the new one. The original advice on the UKPS website was based on this, but was not intended to prohibit earlier renewal.

Young Offenders

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances it is appropriate for a police officer to use a caution for the first offence of a young offender, rather than pressing charges; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Young people who commit a first offence will normally be dealt with under the Final Warning scheme, unless the offence is so serious that they must be charged and dealt with by a court. They will not receive a caution as that process for young offenders was replaced by the Final Warning Scheme under Section 65, Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The Home Office and the Youth Justice Board produced guidance for the police and Youth Offending Panels on how to operate the scheme and that guidance is available on the Home Office website. The guidance provides comprehensive details on how to proceed with the most common offences but makes it clear that in deciding on the correct course the individual circumstances of the offence, offender and other relevant information must be considered as part of the decision-making process. That ensures that appropriate levels of discretion remain in the system for dealing with young offenders and that the correct action is taken in each case.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2006, Official Report, column 1127W, to the hon. Member for Carmarthen, East and Dinefwr (Adam Price), on Afghanistan, which agencies in Afghanistan are liaising with the UK authorities on the process for the eradication of the poppy crop.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK does not carry out eradication in Afghanistan; eradication policy and implementation is the responsibility of the Government of Afghanistan, in particular, the Ministry of Counter Narcotics and the Ministry of Interior. The Government of Afghanistan's policy on eradication is set out in its National Drug Control Strategy which states that where there are legal livelihoods, a credible threat of eradication is needed in order to incentivise the shift away from poppy cultivation. We will therefore carry out targeted ground-based eradication throughout Afghanistan in order to ensure we make maximum progress towards our long-term elimination goal. The UK supports this approach and in 200506 provided 5.25 million to support the Government of Afghanistan's eradication effort. In particular, the UK supported the Ministry of Counter Narcotics targeting work to identify priority areas for eradication and provided equipment, including tractors and all-terrain vehicles.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the stability of the Government of Nepal for the purpose of channelling aid to the Nepalese people.

Hilary Benn: DFID is monitoring the current political instability in Nepal very closely. Under present conditions, the ability of the Government of Nepal to implement development activities and deliver basic services is very sharply constrained. For UK aid through Government to be effective, it is therefore essential that there is a satisfactory resolution to the present crisis.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid was allocated to Nepal in each of the last three years.

Hilary Benn: Expenditure under the DFID bilateral programme, including humanitarian aid and DFID-managed funds from the cross-Whitehall Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP), was as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200203 27.16 
			 200304 32.05 
			 200405 35.08 
		
	
	The estimated figure for expenditure in 200506 is 33.2 million (32.8 million excluding the GCPP).

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to reduce aid allocation to Nepal.

Hilary Benn: Following King Gyanendra's assumption of direct rule last year, DFID's allocation to Nepal for the financial year 200506 was reduced from 40 million to 32 million. For 200607, the allocation has been reduced further, to 30 million. These changes reflected the deteriorating environment for using aid funds effectively to reduce poverty in Nepal. The current political crisis in Nepal poses a further serious threat to the effective use of aid and DFID is keeping the situation under close review.
	DFID also manages funds from the cross-Whitehall Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP). Including the GCPP, expenditure in 200506 was an estimated 33.2 million and the 200607 allocation is 30.16 million.

Overseas Aid

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has given in overseas development aid excluding debt relief in each of the last 10 years; what percentage of UK gross domestic product these payments constituted; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Set out are details of UK official development assistance (ODA) with and without debt relief as a percentage of gross national income. This is the measure used in international reporting.
	The Government have announced a clear timetable to reach the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of gross national income (GNI) spent on development aid by 2013. Last year UK aid spending as a proportion of GNI rose sharply, reflecting implementation of the Government's plan to increase development assistance set out in its 2004 Spending Round and a significant short-term increase due to debt relief for Nigeria. Debt relief to poor countries frees resources for poverty reduction and is quite rightly classified as official development assistance (ODA).
	ODA, excluding debt relief, rose in cash terms last year but decreased as a proportion of GNI. The main factors were changes in the CDC portfolio and timing of payments to the European development fund. We do not expect these issues to affect the 2006 figures.
	
		
			  UK ODA ( million) ODA as percentage of GNI UK ODA less debt relief ( million) ODA less debt relief as percentage on GNI 
		
		
			 1996 2050 0.27 1998 0.27 
			 1997 2096 0.26 1916 0.24 
			 1998 2332 0.27 2077 0.24 
			 1999 2118 0.24 2048 0.23 
			 2000 2974 0.32 2871 0.31 
			 2001 3179 0.32 2919 0.29 
			 2002 3281 0.31 2878 0.27 
			 2003 3847 0.34 3767 0.34 
			 2004 4302 0.36 3868 0.33 
			 2005(19) 5916 0.48 3879 0.31 
		
	
	(19)Provisional estimates.
	Source:
	DAC online database.

Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what total aid budget has been allocated to (a) Tanzania, (b) Nepal, (c) Ethiopia, (d) Venezuela and (e) Peru by the UK for 200607; and what percentage each figure represents of each country's GDP.

Hilary Benn: Of the five countries referred to, DFID has bilateral aid programmes in Tanzania, Nepal and Ethiopia. The total aid budget allocated by DFID in 200607 to each country is:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Tanzania 110,000,000 
			 Nepal 30,000,000 
			 Ethiopia 90,000,000 
		
	
	There is no UK bilateral programme in Venezuela or Peru. However, DFID has allocated 620,000 in 2006 for Andes regional activities which covers Peru, Bolivia and Columbia.
	Projected 200607 GDP figures are not available so it is not possible to say what percentage the 200607 allocations represent in relation to the countries' GDP, but for information, the GDP for each country for the latest year available (2004) is:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Tanzania 5,921,548,953 
			 Nepal 3,659,813,448 
			 Ethiopia 4,407,543,048 
			 Venezuela 59,656,960,830 
			 Peru 37,323,129,672

Parliamentary Questions  (Supplementary Information)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy when placing material in the Library in response to a parliamentary question, to supply a copy of the material to the hon. Member who tabled the question; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: As well as depositing material in the Libraries of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Department for International Development has always adopted the policy of supplying copies of additional material referred to in the response to a parliamentary question to the Member of the House who tabled the question.

Rights, Democracy and Inclusion Fund

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much each country in receipt of funds through the Rights, Democracy and Inclusion Fund has received in each of the last three years.

Hilary Benn: The Rights, Democracy and Inclusion Fund is a recent initiative within DFID's aid programme in Nepal, and is co-financed by the Swiss Government. The Fund was launched in January 2006 to support Nepali initiatives aimed at strengthening institutions of democracy and increasing the political inclusion of ethnic minorities, dalits and women. To date, one grant has been approved by the Fund, which received some 30 proposals in its first two months of operation. It was anticipated that the Fund would disburse up to 3 million of British and Swiss funds over its three-year life, with some 400,000 allocated for the 200607 financial year. However, management and implementation of all development activities, including this Fund, have been seriously affected by the current political crisis in Nepal.

Rights, Democracy and Inclusion Fund

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are in place to assess the effectiveness of funds allocated through the Rights, Democracy and Inclusion Fund.

Hilary Benn: Applications for financial support under the Rights, Democracy and Inclusion Fund are subject to careful scrutiny by a committee comprising staff from DFID's Nepal office, the British embassy in Kathmandu, and a representative of the Swiss Government. All approved projects will have clear objectives against which organisations receiving grants will be required to report. In addition, the effectiveness of the Fund overall will be periodically reviewed to ensure that it represents a good use of aid funds.

Strategic Defence Reviews

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions the Department has allocated funds to assist strategic defence reviews in the last nine years.

Hilary Benn: DFID has supported defence reviews through the Global and Africa Conflict Prevention Pools, which bring together the conflict prevention work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development (DFID). The Africa Conflict Prevention Pool (ACPP) has supported a Strategic Defence Review in Uganda. The Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) has supported defence reviews in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. In each case, advice was delivered through the Security Sector Development Advisory Team (SSDAT), a team of technical advisers from the Ministry of Defence and DFID.
	DFID encourages national security reviews that address the safety, security and access to justice needs of individuals and communities as well as of the state. A national security review should inform any following defence review process by clearly stating the priorities required by a country of its defence sector. The ACPP has supported such national security reviews in Sierra Leone and has provided limited advice to the United Nations Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS). The GCPP has supported the development of a National Security Strategy in Jamaica and the Internal Security Review in Kosovo.

Uganda

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the percentage of Ugandans who lived in poverty in (a) 2001 and (b) 2004.

Hilary Benn: According to the latest available data from the Uganda National Household Survey in 200203, 38 per cent. of the population lived below the poverty line compared with 56 per cent. of the population in 1992. There was a significant decline in poverty through the 1990s.
	The 200506 Uganda National Household Survey is currently being carried out and new poverty data should be available by the beginning of 2007.

Uganda

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of Uganda's budget in the last year for which figures are available was (a) donor sponsored and (b) sponsored by the UK.

Hilary Benn: In the Ugandan financial year of 200405 (which runs from July to June) 47 per cent. of the Government of Uganda's budget was sponsored by donors. In the financial year of 200405, British aid was 4.7 per cent. of the Government of Uganda's budget. This is the last financial year for which data are available.

Uganda

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of the total Ugandan budget British aid represented in (a) 2001 and (b) 2004; and how much total aid Uganda received in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2004.

Hilary Benn: In the Ugandan financial year of 200102 (which runs from July to June), British aid was 6.7 per cent. of the total budget of the Government of Uganda. In the financial year of 200405, British aid was 4.7 per cent. of the total budget.
	In the financial year of 200102, Uganda received total aid equivalent to 492 million, the total aid received by Uganda in the financial year of 200405, was equivalent to 478 million.
	This information is based on data from Uganda's Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.

Uganda

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the contribution of the funds allocated to the Ugandan Ministry of Defence's strategic defence review to the reduction of poverty in that country.

Hilary Benn: Human security is essential for development. At the same time it is important for governments to strike the right balance between expenditure and security and on reducing poverty in areas such as education and health.
	An independent assessment of the UK's support for Uganda's first strategic Defence Review was carried out in December 2004. It found that the Review has helped to establish the processes necessary for ensuring a professional, modern, accountable, efficient and affordable security sector. Already the Review has been the basis for the development of a Defence Corporate Plan that prioritises expenditure and includes indicators which can be used to monitor performance for example in procurement, financial management and management of human resources. The Defence Review and the Corporate Plan provide a basis for more effective dialogue between government and development partners about Uganda's defence expenditure. In this, we emphasise the importance of implementing the recommendations of the Defence Review to help provide the security required for poverty reduction.

NORTHERN IRELAND

A and E Departments

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  on how many occasions police were called to deal with unruly or violent behaviour at accident and emergency departments in each of Northern Ireland's acute hospitals in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many incidents necessitating police being summoned occurred at accident and emergency departments of each Northern Ireland acute hospital in each year between 2000 and 2005.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not recorded centrally either by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety or by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
	Therefore, this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Avian Influenza

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been established in the event of the arrival in Northern Ireland of avian influenza to protect (a) the farming community and (b) the wider population.

Shaun Woodward: Both the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) and the Department of Rural Development (DARD) are working closely on this issue and have contingency plans in place to deal with an outbreak of avian influenza in both humans and birds.
	Specific guidance on worker safety and personal protection has been issued to DARD staff, the poultry industry, and those living and working on farms in respect of the threat of avian influenza. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) prophylaxis will be made available to those who have contact with infected poultry.
	There have been no cases of human-to-human transmission recorded to date and the threat of avian influenza to the general population is currently very low indeed. Nevertheless DHSSPS has ensured that arrangements are in place for the rapid diagnosis and management of any human cases of avian influenza. Information for professionals and the public is available on our website at http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/phealth/avianflu.htm.
	Further information on the disease risk to humans travelling to and from areas affected by avian flu has been produced jointly by DARDNI and DHSSPS and is available at ports, including airports, GP surgeries and community pharmacies.

Civil Service (Travel Expenses)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2006, Official Report, column 2490W, on civil service travel expenses, what percentage of travel undertaken by (a) the Department for Agriculture and Rural Affairs and (b) the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) during the last financial year was (i) within Northern Ireland, (ii) between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, (iii) between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and (iv) between Northern Ireland and continental Europe; what percentage of travel costs incurred by the NIO was for air travel between Belfast and London; and what percentage of travel costs was for (A) standard and economy and (B) first and business class travel.

Peter Hain: The cost of NIO travel cannot be disaggregated, except at disproportionate cost. However, it is estimated that less than 10 per cent. of the cost is for travel within NI and between NI and the RoI. It is further estimated that some 80 per cent. of all travel cost is in respect of flights between NI and GB and that less than 1,000 was spent on travel between NI and continental Europe.
	Approximately 90 per cent. of air travel cost was for journeys between Belfast and London and some 94 per cent. of these trips were at business class with the remaining 6 per cent. at economy class.
	NIO business class travel bookings are at competitive rates, are fully flexible and refundable and enable staff to make last minute adjustments to their travel arrangements without a cost penalty to meet the demands of the Department's business.
	Travel costs within the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development cannot be separated into the geographical divisions requested except at disproportionate cost.
	However, it is estimated that some 85 per cent. of expenditure was on mileage, which is likely to relate primarily to travel within Northern Ireland, 12 per cent. related to public transport within the United Kingdom (including air, train and bus fares) and 3 per cent. related to travel outside of the United Kingdom.

Deaf Teachers

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaf people qualified as teachers in the last five years; and how many of those people are now employed as full-time teachers.

Angela Smith: Students gaining an initial teacher training qualification from a Northern Ireland higher education institution and declaring a hearing impairment/deaf disability, 200001 to 200405 are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of qualifications obtained 
		
		
			 200001 (20) 
			 200102 0 
			 200203 (20) 
			 200304 5 
			 200405 (20) 
		
	
	(20)To prevent the identification of individuals, figures less than five have been suppressed.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency.
	Information on the current employment status of the graduates identified in the table is not available.

Denis Donaldson

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what co-operation there has been between the Garda and the Police Service of Northern Ireland in connection with the murder of Denis Donaldson.

Shaun Woodward: The hon. Member will appreciate that this is an ongoing investigation. I can, however, assure him that both Gardai and the Police Service of Northern Ireland are collectively engaged in tracking down those responsible for this horrendous murder, and the Government wholeheartedly and actively supports those efforts.

Dental Services

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland wishing to be registered with an NHS dentist on 31 December 2005 were not so registered.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available.

Education

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time students are enrolled in each of the further and higher education institutes in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The latest available data 1 pertaining to student participation in the Northern Ireland further education sector relate to the 2004/05 academic year and are detailed as follows.
	1 Data is a full year count of students.
	
		
			  Mode to attendance 
			 College Full-time Part-time Total 
		
		
			 Armagh 1,053 3,765 4,818 
			 BIFHE(21) 4,326 23,305 27,631 
			 Castlereagh 938 6,024 6,962 
			 Causeway 897 4,540 5,437 
			 East Antrim 1,301 7,575 8,876 
			 East Down 1,132 5,299 6,431 
			 East Tyrone 626 8,490 9,116 
			 Fermanagh 841 8,010 8,851 
			 Limavady 126 4,421 4,547 
			 Lisburn 880 4,268 5,148 
			 Newry and Kilkeel 1,436 9,375 10,811 
			 North Down and Ards 2,514 8,119 10,633 
			 North East 1,986 6,994 8,980 
			 North West 2,726 12,250 14,976 
			 Omagh 452 5,468 5,920 
			 Upper Bann 1,128 9,589 10,717 
			 Total 22,362 127,492 149,854 
		
	
	(21)Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education.
	Source:
	FESR.

Independent Treatment Centres

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the development of independent sector treatment centres in the NHS in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: There are currently no plans to develop independent sector treatment centres in Northern Ireland. However, in the context of securing shorter waiting times for patients, I am committed to making appropriate use of the independent sector while at the same time developing additional hospital capacity and reforming hospital systems and processes.

Long-term Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people in the NHS in Northern Ireland have been on long-term sick leave in each of the last three years (a) in total and (b) broken down by grade, and how many were suffering from stress.

Shaun Woodward: pursuant to the reply of 18 April 2006, Official Report, col. 491W
	. I am now in a position to provide the information requested.
	
		Number of episodes of long-term sick leave (28+ days) by year
		
			 Staff group 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Admin and clerical 1,596 1,604 1,617 
			 Ambulance 103 165 175 
			 Ancillary and general 2,135 2,137 2,079 
			 Medical and dental 115 118 134 
			 Nursing and midwifery 3,436 3,371 3,551 
			 Professional and technical 668 661 667 
			 Social services 1,120 1,134 1,201 
			 Works and maintenance 84 81 65 
			 Total 9,257 9,271 9,489 
		
	
	
		Number of episodes of long-term stress related sick leave by year
		
			 Staff group 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Admin and clerical 287 325 303 
			 Ambulance 48 51 54 
			 Ancillary and general 414 432 394 
			 Medical and dental 9 14 17 
			 Nursing and midwifery 505 588 544 
			 Professional and technical 96 111 109 
			 Social services 195 248 233 
			 Works and maintenance 9 13 5 
			 Total 1,563 1,782 1,659 
		
	
	These figures include episodes of sick leave, which commenced between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2005. If an episode runs beyond the end of a particular year, it may be counted again in the following year. Stress-related illnesses such as nervous debility/anxiety and depression are included in the figures.

Medical Equipment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what is the most expensive piece of medical equipment in each hospital in Northern Ireland; and how many continuous hours per day each is operation.

Shaun Woodward: pursuant to the reply, 18 April 2006, Official Report, c. 492W
	I am now in a position to provide the information requested.
	This information is not held centrally. The following information has been supplied by health and social services trusts which provide acute hospital services. In some instances it has not been possible to provide the number of hours the equipment is used on a daily basis. My department is currently examining the diagnostic capacity available within the HPSS as part of my elective care reforms which are designed to reduce waiting times for inpatient day case and outpatient procedures.
	
		
			 Hospital Equipment Daily Usage 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust   
			 Altnagelvin Hospital MRI Scanner 8:457:15 (5days a week) 
			
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust   
			 Belfast City Hospital High Energy Linear Accelerator 8:3020.00 (5 days a week) 
			
			 Causeway HSS Trust   
			 Causeway Hospital CT Scanner 8 hours a day (full emergency CT service night and weekends). 
			
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 
			 Craigavon Hospital MRI Scanner 9:007:00 (5 days a week) 
			 South Tyrone Hospital CT Scanner 9:007:00 (full emergency CT service night and weekends) 
			 Lurgan Hospital Mammography Equipment 9:007:00 (5 days a week) 
			
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust   
			 Downe Hospital CT Scanner 9:007:00 (full emergency CT service night and weekends). 
			 Lagan Valley Hospital CT Scanner 9:007:00 (full emergency CT service night and weekends). 
			
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust   
			 Musgrave Park Hospital Magnetom Avanta MRI Scanner 12 hours a day MonFri, (Sat  Sun morning) 
			
			 Mater Hospital HSS Trust   
			 Mater Hospital CT Scanner 9:007:00 (full emergency CT service night and weekends). 
			 Newry  Mourne HSS Trust   
			 Daisy Hill Hospital CT Scanner 9:0017:00 (full emergency CT service night and weekends). 
			  
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust   
			 Royal Group of Hospitals MRI Scanner 8:307.00 (plus 34 evenings per week to 9pm) Sat  Sun 8:3012:30. 
			
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust   
			 Tyrone County Hospital CT Ultrasound system 1 3 examinations a day, 5 days a week (plus emergency 
			   CT service night and weekends) 
			 Erne Hospital CT Ultrasound system 14.5 examinations a day, 5 days a week, (plus emergency CT service night and weekends). 
			
			 Ulster Community  Hospitals HSS Trust 
			 Ulster Hospital MRI Scanner 7 hours a day (5 days a week) 
			 Ards Hospital Computerised Radiography systems 7 hours a day (5 days a week) 
			 Bangor Hospital Computerised Radiography systems 7 hours a day (5 days a week) 
			
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust   
			 Antrim Hospital Siemens Magnaton Symphony MRI Scanner 8:307: 00 (5 days a week) 
			 Braid Valley Hospital Siemens General X-Ray Room 9:0017:00 (5 days a week) 
			 Mid Ulster Hospital Toshiba Single slice CT Scanner 4 hours per day. (plus emergency CT service night and weekends) 
			 Moyle Hospital Siemens General X-ray Room 9:0012:30 (5 days a week). 
			 Whiteabbey Hospital Fluoroscopy Room 9:0017:00 (Full emergency service).

Northern Ireland Civil Service

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been carried out to ensure that filling of vacancies in the Northern Ireland Civil Service from (a) departmental transfer lists and (b) the central transfer list complies with (i)section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and (ii) all other equality obligations.

Angela Smith: The process of filling vacancies from departmental transfer lists has not been assessed against equality obligations, including Section 75. The central policy on staff transfers has not been subject to equality screening; however, the policy is currently under review. The expectation is that the new policy will establish a consistent approach to filling vacancies across the NICS and the policy will be subject to the equality impact assessment process.

Nursing Home Care

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the letter of 3 August 2005 from the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (COR/379/2005) to the hon. Member for North Down what the exceptional circumstances are under which health care may be provided free of charge in a nursing home in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The exceptional circumstances where continuing health care needs might be met in a nursing home, rather than in hospital, are a matter for professional clinical and social care judgement in individual cases and will be based on an assessment of whether continuing consultant intervention and/or specialist nursing care could be more effectively and efficiently provided in a nursing home.

Parking

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fixed penalties were issued during 2005 in Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development pay and display car parks in respect of vehicles that did not have the correct payment sticker displayed on the windscreen.

Shaun Woodward: The chief executive of the roads service has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 25 April 2006
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a parliamentary question regarding how many fixed penalties were issued during 2005 in Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development pay and display car parks in respect of vehicles that did not have the correct payment sticker displayed on the windscreen.
	As this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of roads service, I have been asked to reply.
	I should explain that in roads service's pay and display car parks, a fee is levied based on the length of time that the driver intends to park. If a vehicle fails to display evidence that a fee has been paid, an Alternative Charge ticket is issued. However, if a fee has been paid, but is insufficient for the length of stay, an Excess Charge ticket is issued.
	I can advise that during 2005 roads service issued 16,112 Alternative Charge and 4,908 Excess Charge tickets.

Parliamentary Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will answer question (a) 38593 and (b) 38594, tabled by the hon. Member for Upper Bann, on special advisers.

Peter Hain: I have now responded to the hon. Member's questions (a) 38593 and (b) 38594. I must apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding, owing to an administrative error within the Department. Steps have been taken to prevent a recurrence.

Patient Advocates

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases were dealt with by patient advocates during 2005 at each of Northern Ireland's acute hospitals.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available. However, patient liaison and support services, including advocacy, provided by Health and Social Services Trusts, are widely available in Northern Ireland, as are advocacy services provided by the Health and Social Services Councils.

Sex Offenders (Tagging)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convicted sex offenders in Northern Ireland have had electronic type tags fitted after their release from prison in each year between 2000 and 2005.

David Hanson: Electronic tagging is not currently used in Northern Ireland. The recent consultation on the Review of the Sentencing Framework included a section inviting comment on the possible introduction of electronic monitoring and on its various applications. We will bring forward proposals to modernise the sentencing framework during the course of the year.

Special Advisers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many special advisers are employed by the Government in Northern Ireland; what their (a) role is, (b) relationship with the various civil service departments and officials is, (c) salary is and (d) qualifications are;
	(2)  what function special advisers employed by the Government in Northern Ireland exercise in relation to departmental answers to parliamentary questions; and how many of them are members of the Labour Party.

Peter Hain: There are two special advisers employed within my Department. Their role and relationships with Departments and officials are in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers issued by the Cabinet Office's Propriety and Ethics Team. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Prime Minister's written ministerial statement on special advisers of 21 July 2005. This statement referred to the revised Code of Conduct for Special Advisers which reflected commitments given by the Government to the Public Administration Committee and the Committee on Standards in Public Life. It also advised that the Civil Service Order in Council governing the appointment of special advisers had been amended to the effect that special advisers are appointed to assist Ministers. They are employed as temporary civil servants and paid according to the relevant pay band. On the issue of Labour Party membership, this is matter for the individuals concerned.

Still-births

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) financial assistance and (b) support is available for expectant mothers in Northern Ireland who deliver a still-born baby.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) A stillbirth is defined in The Stillbirth Definition (Northern Ireland) Order, 1992 as
	The complete expulsion from its mother, after the 24th week of pregnancy, of a child which did not at any time after being completely expelled or extracted breathe or show any other evidence of life.
	Such an event prior to 24 weeks is treated as a miscarriage. This distinction is reflected in the financial assistance available.
	If a pregnancy does not result in the issue of a living child, depending on her individual circumstances, a woman may be entitled to receive financial support as follows:
	(i) If the pregnancy ends before 24 weeks; incapacity benefit, statutory sick pay and income support;
	(ii) If the pregnancy ends after 24 weeks; statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance, income support, a social fund funeral payment and a sure start maternity grant.
	(b) Trained staff within the Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) in Northern Ireland offer a wide range of support to the bereaved. This is in addition to the services available from voluntary, community and church organisations. In July 2005 the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (NI) published a Careplan for Women who Experience a Miscarriage, Stillbirth or Neonatal Death. This document is designed to promote quality and effective care and forms a basis for trusts to develop their arrangements in accordance with local needs and circumstances. It can be viewed at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/hoi-careplan.pdf.
	In March 2006, a HPSS regional bereavement network for Northern Ireland was established. It comprises five area co-ordinators based in local hospitals, and will help make a significant contribution to developing support for those who experience a stillbirth.

Television

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to ascertain the demand for access to Scottish television by viewers in Northern Ireland who do not have cable or satellite.

David Hanson: Government have no plans to ascertain demand for access to Scottish television by viewers in Northern Ireland.

Two Tick Symbol

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  under what circumstances organisations in Northern Ireland may no longer use the two tick symbol;
	(2)  what the criteria are for use by an organisation in Northern Ireland of the two tick symbol;
	(3)  how many organisations in Northern Ireland have ceased to be eligible to use the two tick symbol in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The two ticks disability symbol does not operate in Northern Ireland.

TREASURY

Business Investment

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of business investment was as a percentage of gross domestic product in (a) the UK, (b) Germany, (c) France, (d) the US and (e) other OECD countries in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: On average between 1997 and 2004, UK business investment has grown more than any other G7 economy except Canada, and more than both the euro area and OECD averages.
	The data requested are available from the OECD Economic Outlook (Source OECD database), which is available through the House of Commons Library.

Census Act

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the operation of the Census Act 1920.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Jil Matheson, dated 25 April 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on the operation of the Census Act 1920. I am replying in her absence. (64884)
	The Census Act 1920 as amended by the Census (Confidentiality) Act 1991 and the Census Amendment Act 2000 is the legislation which empowers the taking of a census. It specifies the duty of the Registrar General to make arrangements and do all such things as are necessary to take a census and provides that expenses incurred will be provided by Parliament.
	In practical terms it covers every aspect of the Census from the enumeration procedures, the topics which may be required, to the laying of reports before Parliament. The Census Act also requires secondary legislation in the form of an Order in Council and Census Regulations to be made for each Census.
	The Census Order directs that a particular census shall be taken, and is a function of the Queen's Privy Council. The Draft Order is laid before both Houses of Parliament under Section 1(2) of the Census Act and prescribes:
	the date of the Census;
	the areas to be covered by the Census;
	the persons required to complete the returns;
	the persons required to be included in the returns (that is, the enumeration base); and
	the particulars (that is the question items) to be recorded in respect of each person.
	Section 3 of the Census Act 1920 empowers the Chancellor to make Regulations governing the detailed arrangements for the conduct of the Census, principally covering the data collection activities.
	Reports on output from a Census are laid before Parliament under Section 4 (1) and Section 4(2) allows the preparation of additional abstracts requested by customers.
	Other sections of the Act cover the authority to carry out a local census at the request and expense of a local authority (Sections 6 and 7); the penalties for unlawful disclosure of personal census information and for refusal to comply with the Census Act (Section 8).
	The Schedule of the 1920 Census Act sets out the topics in respect of which particulars may be required in the Census.

Consultants

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor bodies spent on consultants in (a) each year between 1997 and 200001 and (b) 200506.

Dawn Primarolo: The former Inland Revenue spent the following amounts on consultancy between 1997 and 200001:
	
		
			  Amount ( million) 
		
		
			 199798 9.2 
			 199899 15.8 
			 19992000 35.0 
		
	
	Data are not available for the former Customs and Excise for these years.
	Audited figures for HMRC for 200506 are not available.

EU Commissioner for External Trade

Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to the EU Commissioner for External Trade on (a) his decision to impose duties on imports of shoes from China and Vietnam, (b) the current discussions on imports of furniture from Asia and (c) the current talks in the Doha trade round; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: As the Treasury set out in the April 2006 pamphlet 'The case for open markets: how increased competition can equip Europe for global change', openness to trade and investment is key to Europe's future prosperity and we need to strengthen its relationships with its major trade and investment partners. An ambitious outcome to the Doha Round is essential to deliver benefits to developed and developing countries alike and all key players need to demonstrate commitment and political will in order to achieve a successful outcome by the end of 2006.
	To this end Treasury Ministers and officials have conversations and discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals as part of the of policy development, analysis and delivery.

EU Commissioner for External Trade

Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the EU Commissioner for External Trade; how many times in the last 12 months he has met him; when he next expects to meet him; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals as part of the process of policy development, analysis and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of every such meeting.

HM Revenue and Customs

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what performance related pay is given to HM Revenue and Customs employees.

Dawn Primarolo: In HMRC all pay awards are performance related. Staff must achieve a satisfactory or better standard of performance to qualify for a basic performance award.
	There are three performance categories'Top', 'Good' and 'Improvement needed'. In addition to the basic performance award, 'Top' and 'Good' performers will qualify for a pay range progression award. Also, the 'Top' category (20 per cent. of staff) will qualify for a bonus of between 2.5 per cent. and 5 per cent. of salary. Those deemed 'Good' and on their pay range maxima, will qualify for a smaller bonus.
	This information excludes members of the senior civil service (SCS), who have a separate pay system.

Hospitals (Tax Payments)

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) pay as you earn tax and (b) national insurance is outstanding from all hospital trusts to HM Revenue and Customs.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 7 March 2006, Official Report, column 1300W.

Imports (Tax Evasion)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated level of tax evasion on imported goods was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs currently does not undertake any exercise to quantify the level of tax evasion on imported goods.

Income Tax

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the difference would be to the nearest 1 million of income generated to the Exchequer if the personal allowance for all was raised to 10,000 per annum and all income above that taxed at 40 per cent., compared with the present personal tax system.

Dawn Primarolo: The estimated yield from increasing all personal allowances to 10,000 and introducing a single rate of 40 per cent. on earnings, savings and dividend income is 32.4 billion in 200506.
	The estimate is given to the nearest 100 million because estimates to the nearest 1 million will be less accurate.
	The actual yield is likely to be less because the figure excludes any estimate of behavioural response to the tax change which is likely to be significant given the scale of the change.
	The income tax information is based upon the 200304 Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) and projected forward to 200506 in line with March 2006 Budget HM Treasury assumptions.

Insurance Mediation Directive

Shahid Malik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek an exemption for the freight forwarding sector from compliance with the EU directive on insurance mediation.

Ivan Lewis: HM Treasury is aware of the concerns that have been expressed in relation to the insurance mediation directive by the freight forwarding sector, and has met industry representatives to discuss their concerns.
	In the implementation of EU directives, EU member states have to give effect to the obligations in the directive and cannot unilaterally alter the scope of any directive.

Non-Parochial Registers Act

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the operation of section 5 of the Non-Parochial Registers Act 1840;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the operation of the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the operation of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953;
	(4)  if he will make a statement on the operation of the Registration Service Act 1953;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on the operation of section 5 of the Public Expenditure and Receipts Act 1968;
	(6)  if he will make a statement on the operation of section 18 of the Marriage Act 1970.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Dennis Roberts, dated 25 April 2006
	The Registrar General has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning the Registration Service. I am replying in her absence. (65041, 64885, 65042, 64882, 64883  65043)
	The Registration Service Act 1953 (65041) sets out the responsibility for the provision and administration of the registration service in England and Wales. This includes the provision by local authorities of a local registration service for births, stillbirths, deaths and marriages which is overseen by the General Register Office on behalf of the Registrar General.
	The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 (64885) sets out requirements for the registration of births, still-births and deaths in England and Wales. The registration service is successfully delivered, resulting in creation of the appropriate registration records and issue of certificates within the timescales that are required.
	Section 5 of the Public Expenditure and Receipts Act 1968 (65042) allows the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make an Order varying fees for marriage services and certificates of births, deaths and marriages. The power to charge fees for these services is prescribed in the Marriage Act 1949 and the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953. The fees collected contribute to meeting the costs to local authorities of the provision of the local registration service and those of the Registrar General in providing the central certificate application service.
	Registers deposited under the Non-Parochial Registers Act 1840 (64882) are held at the National Archive who provide access to those records and list them in their catalogue. If a certificate under the seal of the General Register is required for evidential purposes arrangements are in place for this service to be provided by the Registrar General.
	The Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 (64883) provides for places of religious worship, except those of the Established Church, to be certified to the Registrar General on payment of a fee, currently 28, to the superintendent registrar of the district.
	A building has to be certified as a place of religious worship before it can be registered for marriages by the Registrar General under the Marriage Act 1949. The Registrar General maintains the record of these places of religious worship by adding those newly certified and cancelling those that are disused.
	Section 18 of the Marriage (Registrar General's Licence) Act 1970 (65043) empowers the Registrar General, with the approval of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to make regulations prescribing the form of the notice of marriage and the form of the Registrar General's licence. These forms are prescribed by the Registration of Marriages Regulations 1986 (SI 19867 1442) as amended by the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/3177).

Planning Aid Supplement

Michael Gove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the proposed planning aid supplement will be retained by the local authority in which the development to be taxed takes place.

John Healey: In the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report 2006 the Government stated that it would ensure that a significant majority of Planning-gain Supplement (PGS) revenues are retained for infrastructure priorities within the local authority area where the revenues derived.

Secular Baby-naming Ceremonies

Colin Challen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that registrars make those registering births aware of providers of secular baby-naming ceremonies in addition to those ceremonies provided on a commercial basis by registrars themselves.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Dennis Roberts, dated 25 April 2006
	The Registrar General has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking that registrars make those registering births aware of providers of secular baby-naming ceremonies in addition to those provided on a commercial basis by registrars themselves. I am replying ill her absence. (65142)
	Registrars are statutory office holders who are appointed by local authorities to carry out duties relating to the registration of births, still-births, deaths and marriages. Their statutory duties do not include performing-baby-naming ceremonies but registrars may be involved in delivering ceremonies as a local authority function. Any arrangements for information about independently operated baby-naming ceremonies being made available by registrars would be a matter for individual local authorities.

Self-invested Personal Pensions

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to regulate independent trustees of self-invested personal pensions.

Ivan Lewis: As set out in the formal Government response to the autumn 2005 consultation on pension scheme rules, the pensions industry overwhelmingly supported the option of introducing, from April 2007, a new regulated activity of establishing, operating or winding up a personal pension scheme. This new activity will cover independent trustees of self-invested personal pensions. Industry also overwhelmingly agreed with Government that it was sensible not to rush through this regulation before April 2007. The FSA published a consultation paper in April 2006 and will analyse feedback during the summer before making the necessary amendments to their rulebook by October 2006.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants have been on the manual payments database in each quarter from Q1 2003 to Q1 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available for 200304 and 200405. For 200506, the information is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many disabled adults have claimed tax credits in each month since April 2003 in Coventry, South.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 31 January 2006, Official Report, column 414W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many referrals were received by HM Revenue and Customs' Special Compliance Office and Criminal Investigations in respect of tax credit fraud in the period from April 2005 to February 2006.

Dawn Primarolo: In the period 1 April 2005 to 28 February 2006, Criminal Investigations received around 2,100 referrals relating to tax credits.

Tax Credits

Diana Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of forged tax credits which resulted in prosecution have been reported to Jobcentre Plus in Hull in the past 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: There have been no cases of forged (fraudulent) tax credit claims resulting in a prosecution relating to Jobcentre Plus in Hull in the last 12 months.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional checks and safeguards have been introduced into the tax credits system since 1 December 2005 to reduce fraud; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC takes fraud very seriously and as part of its everyday activity, continually examines its approaches to tackling fraudintroducing new measures and initiatives where necessary. Following the closure of the tax credit e-portal in December, HMRC is planning to implement through scheduled IT releases additional measures and will reopen the portal once this work provides the necessary assurance. It would be inappropriate to give specific details of these as it could aid those seeking to gain through fraud.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Advertising Costs

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on advertising for job vacancies in each of the last five years.

Jim Murphy: Recruitment expenditure for the Cabinet Office is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Expenditure () 
		
		
			 200405 317,828 
			 200506 249,535 
		
	
	The Cabinet Office is also responsible for the advertising and filling of Fast Stream vacancies across the Civil Service. These figures include specific Fast Stream advertising costs of 81,000 for the period 200405 and 47,888 for the period 200506.
	Cabinet Office systems are not sufficiently structured to provide accurate information on this issue prior to 1 April 2004.
	Recruitment expenditure for the Central Office of Information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Expenditure () 
		
		
			 200102 61,622 
			 200203 133,013 
			 200304 80,457 
			 200405 179,807 
			 200506 125,884 
		
	
	The figure for Central Office of Information 200506 is still subject to audit.

Office of Public Service Reform

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what factors underlay his decision to abolish the Office of Public Service Reform.

Jim Murphy: The transfer of Office of Public Service Reform's functions to other units is one of a number of recent changes designed to produce a more strategic and better focused Cabinet Office.

Office of Public Service Reform

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the total expenditure was during its lifetime of the Office of Public Service Reform, broken down by (a) salaries, (b) funds spent on consultants and (c) other costs.

Jim Murphy: The total expenditure during the lifetime (June 2001 to January 2006) of the Office of Public Service Reform, broken down by salaries, funds spent on consultants and other costs (including non-salary payroll costs, secondees, publications and conferences) is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Expenditure  million 
		
		
			 Salaries 4.9 
			 Consultants 3.5 
			 Other costs 4.1 
			 Total expenditure 12.5

Office of Public Service Reform

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many individuals in the Office of Public Service Reform were, when it was wound up, receiving gross salaries in excess of 100,000 per annum.

Jim Murphy: No one in the Office of Public Service Reform was receiving a gross salary in excess of 100,000 per annum.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the population claimed (a) income support and (b) incapacity benefit in (i) the UK, (ii) the South West and (iii) Taunton constituency in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: Information is not available in the format requested. The available information for Great Britain, the South West Government Office Region and the Taunton parliamentary constituency is in the tables. No proportions can be given for the constituency figures as working-age population estimates are not available by parliamentary constituency.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants at August each year and as a percentage of the working age population
		
			  Great Britain South West Taunton 
			  Claimants Percentage Claimants Percentage Claimants 
		
		
			 1997 2,849,900 8.3 178,000 6.2 3,700 
			 1998 2,779,900 8.0 177,900 6.2 3,800 
			 1999 2,742,700 7.9 179,000 6.2 3,800 
			 2000 2,758,300 7.9 182,300 6.2 3,900 
			 2001 2,816,600 8.0 187,500 6.4 4,000 
			 2002 2,819,100 7.9 190,600 6.4 4,200 
			 2003 2,827,200 7.9 193,300 6.5 4,200 
			 2004 2,824,200 7.8 195,500 6.5 4,100 
			 2005 2,766,200 7.7 194,100 6.4 4,200 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The Parliamentary Constituency figures for the years 1997 to 1998 have been produced using the 5 per cent. data and have been rated up proportionally using the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. IB/SDA totals.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred; percentages have been rounded to one decimal place.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. Samples from 1997 to 1998 and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data thereafter and ONS population estimates.
	
		Income support claimants at August each year and as a percentage of the relevant population
		
			  Great Britain South West Taunton 
			  Claimants Percentage Claimants Percentage Claimants 
		
		
			 1997 2,308,900 7.0 147,400 5.4 3,100 
			 1998 2,242,800 6.7 144,100 5.2 2,800 
			 1999 2,250,800 6.7 146,200 5.3 3,000 
			 2000 2,259,300 6.7 146,500 5.2 3,000 
			 2001 2,278,800 6.7 148,000 5.3 3,000 
			 2002 2,264,000 6.6 146,200 5.2 3,000 
			 2003 2,244,200 6.5 144,700 5.1 3,000 
			 2004 2,195,100 6.3 140,700 4.9 2,800 
			 2005 2,138,100 6.2 138,200 4.8 2,800 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures for August 1997 and August 1998 have been derived by applying 5 per cent. proportions to 100 per cent. totals. Figures for August 1999 to August 2005 have been taken from 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.
	2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred; percentages have been rounded to one decimal place.
	3. A smaller number of former minimum income guarantee cases did not convert to pension credit on 6 October 2003. These cases have been excluded from the figures and are mainly cases where the claimant is aged under 60 and the partner over 60.
	4. Figures may be affected by the introduction of new tax credits in April 2003.
	5. Percentage population figures have been calculated using the relevant mid-year estimate of those aged 1659 apart from 2005 where mid-2004 estimates were used.
	Source:
	DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) Information Directorate five per cent. samples and ONS Mid-term Population Estimates, 2004.

Benefits

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) benefits and (b) other assistance are offered by his Department to those who act as carers for ill or disabled relatives in West Lancashire; what measures are in place to encourage higher levels of take-up of such benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The administration of carer's allowance is a matter for the chief executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr. Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. member with the information requested.
	Letter from Vivien Hopkins
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) benefits and (b) other assistance are offered by his Department to those who act as carers for ill or disabled relatives in West Lancashire; what measures are in place to encourage higher levels of take-up of such benefits; and if he will make a statement.
	The Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire MP, promised you a substantive reply from the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service (DCS). In the Chief Executive's absence I have been asked to reply on his behalf.
	In answer to parts (a) and (b) of your question, depending on their personal circumstances, carers have access to the full range of social security benefits. Those who provide regular and substantial care of at least 35 hours a week for a severely disabled person receiving Attendance Allowance or the equivalent rates of the Disability Living Allowance care component can be entitled to a Carer's Allowance and if on a low income, to the carer premium in the income-related benefits or the carer's additional amount in Pension Credit.
	Information on the recipients of carer's related benefits in West Lancashire is provided in the following table:
	
		Recipients of carer's related benefits in the Westminster parliamentary constituency of West Lancashire as at August 2005
		
			 Benefit Claimants 
		
		
			 Carer's allowance 900 
			 Carer's additional amount paid with pension credit 500 
			   
			 Carer's premium with income-related benefits  
			 Income support 400 
			 Income based jobseeker's allowance  
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Definitions and conventions: - Nil or Negligible;. Not applicable.
	2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	3. Carer's allowance: Total shows the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital.
	4. Pension credit: Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over).
	5. Parliamentary constituencies are allocated by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS Postcode Directory.
	6. A smaller number of former MIG cases did not convert to pension credit on 6 October 2003. These cases have been excluded from the figures and are mainly cases where the claimant is aged under 60 and the partner over 60.
	7. IS, PC and CA figures are taken from 100 per cent. WPLS data.
	8. JSA (IB) figure is derived by applying 5 per cent. proportions to 100 per cent. WPLS data.
	9. August 2005 is the latest published data available.
	Source:
	DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS).
	Information directorate, 5 per cent. samples.
	Information on housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB) recipients with a carer premium in the North West Government office region (GOR) is provided in the following table:
	
		HB/CTB recipients with a carer premium in North West GORas at May 2004
		
			 Thousands 
			 Benefit Number of recipients 
		
		
			 Housing benefit 24 
			 Council tax benefit 32 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	2. HB/CTB data refers to households and may be a single person or a couple.
	3. HB figures exclude any extended payment cases.
	4. CTB figures exclude any single adult rebate cases.
	5. The figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	6. May 2004 are the latest data available.
	7. The lowest level the figures can be broken down to is GOR, therefore figures have been provided for North West GOR.
	Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2004.
	In answer to the second part of your question asking what measures are in place to encourage higher levels of take-up of such benefits, information and advice about entitlement to Carer's Allowance and other benefits are available from a range of outlets. These include the DCS' Benefit Enquiry Line which is a dedicated helpline, providing advice and information to disabled people and carers or representatives, social security offices, Jobcentre Plus offices, DWP and other internet sites, local authorities, Citizens Advice and welfare benefit offices, public libraries, health clinics, doctors' surgeries and health visitors. Officials from the DCS also discuss Carer's Allowance at outreach events throughout Great Britain, including West Lancashire.
	I hope this is helpful.

Benefits

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what forms of financial assistance are available for full-time carers.

Anne McGuire: Depending on their personal circumstances, carers have access to the full range of social security benefits. Those who provide regular and substantial care of at least 35 hours a week for a severely disabled person receiving attendance allowance or the equivalent rates of the disability living allowance care component can be entitled to a carer's allowance and, if on a low income, to the carer premium in the income- related benefits or the carer's additional amount in pension credit. Most carers entitled to carer's allowance are credited with national insurance contributions to protect their entitlement to state pension, and around two million carers will benefit from the special arrangements we have made for them in the state second pension.
	The Government's National Carer's Strategy, which we developed with carers and the organisations that represent them, and published in 1999, has achieved much in improving the financial support for carers, including older carers, through carer's allowance and other benefits, and through introduction of the carers grant to support local authorities in providing breaks and services for carers. In the last local government finance settlement, we confirmed our commitment to continue the carers grant beyond 2006. Until at least the end of the 200708 financial year, provision for the grant will be 185 million a year. In this way, the Government will have invested an extra 1 billion in support for carers by 2008.

Benefits

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of incapacity benefit claimants in West Lancashire have been receiving the benefit for five years; and what the percentage was in May (a) 1983 and (b) 1997.

Anne McGuire: Incapacity benefit was introduced in April 1995, so no information is available about durations of five years or over prior to May 2000. A breakdown below national level is not available for the predecessor benefits. As at August 2005, the most recent available information, 51 per cent. of incapacity benefit claimants in Lancashire West had been claiming the benefit for over five years.

Benefits

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants of working age in West Lancashire are in receipt of (a) income support with a disability premium, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) severe disablement allowance.

Anne McGuire: As at August 2005, there were 1,800 income support claimants of working age with a disability premium, 4,500 incapacity benefit claimants of working age and 500 severe disablement allowance claimants of working age in West Lancashire.

Benefits

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken between (a) the submitting of a claim for incapacity benefit and the formal acknowledgement of that claim by his Department, (b) the formal receipt of a claim for incapacity benefit and the carrying out of a personal capability assessment interview, (c) a personal capability assessment for incapacity benefit and the decision on eligibility being made, (d) the decision on eligibility for incapacity benefit and the first payment being made and (e) the claim for incapacity benefit being submitted and the first payment being made using the most recent period for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Benefits

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to what point can a recipient of incapacity benefit backdate a claim once eligibility for the benefit has been confirmed; and when in the claims process is the official start point for the payment once eligibility for incapacity benefit has been confirmed.

Anne McGuire: Claims for incapacity benefit can be backdated for up to three months prior to the date of claim.
	Incapacity benefit is not paid for the first three days in a period of incapacity but payment will be made for any other day within the three-month period providing the conditions of entitlement are satisfied.

Benefits

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2006, Official Report, column 1349W, on incapacity benefit, how many recipients of incapacity benefit are receiving an adult dependant addition; and what the average payment is for such recipients.

Anne McGuire: As at August 2005, the most recent available figures, there were 61,400 incapacity benefit claimants in receipt of an adult dependency increase. Of these, 37,700 claimants were in receipt of only an adult dependency increase; the average weekly benefit paid to these claimants was 134.21. Additionally, there were 23,800 incapacity benefit claimants in receipt of both an adult dependency increase and a child dependency increase; the average weekly benefit paid to this group was 151.41.
	Note:
	Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100; totals do not sum due to rounding.

Benefits

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the benefit replacing incapacity benefit will be taxable.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him by my right hon. Friend, Margaret Hodge on 27 March 2006, Official Report, column 720W.

Child Support

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parents have been found to have been avoiding paying the correct amount of child support in (a) Tamworth constituency, (b) Staffordshire, (c) the West Midlands and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Hilary Reynolds
	In reply to your parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the chief executive. As he is currently unavailable, I am responding on his behalf. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your question. You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parents have been found to have been avoiding paying the rightful amount of child support in (a) Tamworth constituency (b) Staffordshire (c) the West Midlands and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.We cannot provide the information at the requested constituency or county level. We have some information at West Midlands level, but only in relation to cases under the old scheme until 2003. All other data is given at GB level, as the CSA does not cover Northern Ireland cases.There are a variety of ways in which a non-resident parent could potentially avoid paying the right amount of child support. For example, an NRP could:
	Refuse to provide information about their income or circumstances.
	By refusing to provide this information they are preventing the Agency from performing a maintenance calculation/assessment and could thus be said to be avoiding paying the rightful amount of child support. Where a parent consistently refuses to provide this information, the Agency may impose an Interim Maintenance Assessment (old scheme) or a Default Maintenance Decision (new scheme). Information on the number of DMDs and IMAs imposed by the Agency is attached as Table 1.
	Under-declare their income and assets. Doing this may result in the establishment of a lower liability for child maintenance than should otherwise have applied, had the NRP's true income and assets been declared. In this case the parent with care may then apply for a departure or variation (old and new rules respectively) from the standard formula, on the basis that the non-resident parent's lifestyle is inconsistent with the income they are declaring to the Agency. Limitations with management information means that the number of variations applied for is not available. However, the number of departures applied for is attached as Table 2.
	Failure to pay the full assessed amount of child maintenance. An NRP who does not pay the full maintenance liability due to them is clearly avoiding paying the rightful amount of child support. The number of NRPs who do not pay the full liability for which they have been assessed is attached as Table 3 and 3.1, relating to GB and west Midlands respectively.
	I hope you find this helpful.
	
		Table : Interim maintenance assessments and default maintenance decisions applied for since 1997
		
			  Interim maintenance assessments (old scheme) Default maintenance decision (new scheme) 
			  Number of cases Percentage of all cases with an assessment Number of cases Percentage of all cases with an assessment 
		
		
			 November 1997 78,000 11 n/a n/a 
			 November 1998 77,000 9 n/a n/a 
			 November 1999 76,000 8 n/a n/a 
			 November 2000 54,000 5 n/a n/a 
			 November 2001 47,000 4 n/a n/a 
			 November 2002 40,000 4 n/a n/a 
			 November 2003 u/a u/a 3,000 6 
			 November 2004 32,000 3 6,000 4 
			 November 2005 27,000 4 7,000 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand and percentages to the nearest
	whole percent.
	2. 'n/a1 indicates the period is not applicable.
	3. 'u/a1 indicates that data is unavailable due to limitations in management
	information.
	
		Table 2: Number of departures applied for in each year since 19992000
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 19992000 20,000 
			 200001 23,000 
			 200102 21,000 
			 200203 21,000 
			 200304 13,000 
			 200405 8,000 
			 200506 (to Feb 2006) 9,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A departure can be applied for where it is felt that a maintenance assessment does not adequately reflect the circumstances of the NRP or PWC. Departures apply to old scheme cases only.
	2. This table shows the number of departures applied for in each year since 19992000. Robust figures are not available for periods of time before 1999.
	3. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
	
		Table 3: Non resident parents in Great Britain who paid the full amount of maintenance, as a proportion of those charged via the agency's collection service.
		
			   Quarter ending Percentage of non-resident parents who paid the full amount of maintenance (overall agency)  New and old scheme 
		
		
			 November 1997 44  
			 November 1998 45  
			 November 1999 47  
			 November 2000 49  
			 November 2001 51  
			 November 2002 54  
			 November 2003 54  
			 November 2004  46 
			 November 2005  45 
			 December 2005  42 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. To place these figures into context, it should be noted that, whilst only 42 per cent. of non-resident parents paid their maintenance liability in full over the quarter ending December 2005, the agency obtained some form of payment from 70 per cent. of cases in which maintenance was due via the collection service. Where any such payment was obtained, on average, 90 per cent. of the amount due was collected.
	2. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest whole percent.
	
		Table 3.1: Non-resident parents on the old scheme in the west Midlands who paid the full amount of maintenance, as a proportion of those charged via theAgency's collection service.
		
			  Percentage of non-resident parents who paid the full amount of maintenance (old scheme) 
		
		
			 November 1997 45 
			 November 1998 44 
			 November 1999 49 
			 November 2000 47 
			 November 2001 53 
			 November 2002 55 
			 November 2003 56 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest whole percent.

Child Support

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures will be introduced to improve the level of child support payments from non-resident non-paying parents.

James Plaskitt: On 9 February my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, announced that Sir David Henshaw will undertake a fundamental redesign of child support policy and delivery mechanisms and he will deliver his finding before summer recess.
	My right hon. Friend also announced that we are making available an additional 120 million to the Child Support Agency to implement the Operational Improvement plan which introduces a number of measures to improve the compliance rate of non-resident parents. This plan is available in the House Library.
	For your benefit the relevant section of this plan is as follows:
	Child Support Agency Operational Improvement Plan 20062009
	Putting It Right: Enforcing Responsibilities
	The Issues
	Nearly one in three non-resident parents who have been assessed and are due to make a payment fail to pay
	Debt accrued since 1993 as a result of non-resident parents' failure to pay exceeds 3.3 billion, some of which is considered uncollectable
	The Agency does not respond quickly or firmly enough when non-resident parents start to default
	Non-resident parents and the general public need greater awareness of the impact on children of the failure to pay child support
	The Action
	Managing non-resident parents with child support debt more effectively.
	Child support debt is created by parents failing to fulfil their responsibility for their children. We will take quicker and firmer action against those who default on payment. We will employ external debt collection agencies to recover outstanding debt.
	We will also improve our own debt collection and enforcement activity to ensure greater returns by using best practice from the private sector. Over 600 more staff trained and effective within the next year and staffing dedicated to enforcement activity quadrupled over the period of the plan through redeployment and restructuring.
	There are many non-resident parents who seek to avoid payment of debt by evading the attempts of the Agency to contact them. We will make more use of information held by HMRC and credit reference agencies to track down those who owe money for their children.
	Court action for those who won't pay
	We will significantly increase the number of non-resident parents brought before the courts through our increased focus on compliance and enforcement, utilising the existing range of sanctions available such as driving licence removal and imprisonment.
	We have been increasing the number of cases where debt is secured through Liability Orders in the courts. We will continue to increase our efforts here, enabling us to seek the seizure of assets where appropriate.
	Understanding the impact for children
	Failure to pay child support causes real hardship for children. We will increase the awareness of this hardship among non-resident parents and the general public. We will work with the media and stakeholders to develop a campaign to make clear that failing to pay has real and lasting consequences for children.
	The Improvement
	More responsibility from non-resident parents
	Increased enforcement action and action in the courts
	More money for more children
	Using debt collection agencies to recover more debt more quickly. Over 100 million more historic debt collected over the three years, although it should be noted that new debt will continue to accrue over this period.
	Delivery that is more efficient and effective
	Four times as many designated enforcement staff generating increased levels of case compliance from 65 per cent. currently, to 75 per cent. by March 2008 and 80 per cent. in March 2009.

Departmental Advertising Costs

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the public information advertising campaigns run by his Department in each of the last seven years; and how much his Department spent on (a) newspapers and (b) television advertising in each of those campaigns.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from parts of the former Department for Social Security, the former Department for Education and Employment, and the Employment Service. Information prior to 2001 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information for other years is as follows:
	
		2005 to 2006
		
			 000 
			 Campaign/subject TV Press 
		
		
			 Age Positive  42 
			 State pension deferral  199 
			 State Second Pension  695 
			 Pensions Education Fund  5 
			 National Pensions Debate  188 
			 Pension Credit  1,250 
			 Disability Discrimination Act  526 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 1,987 1,114 
			 Council tax benefit  550 
			 Winter fuel payments  899 
			 National Sector campaign  23 
			 Images of disability   
			 Age Partnership Group   
			 Total 1,987 5,491 
		
	
	
		2004 to 2005
		
			 000 
			 Campaign/subject TV Press 
		
		
			 Age Positive  29 
			 State pension deferral  115 
			 Disability Discrimination Act  885 
			 Targeting benefit fraud 1,481 618 
			 Direct payment 2,668 4,046 
			 Council tax benefit  661 
			 Pension credit 1,688 2,634 
			 Winter fuel payments  515 
			 IB reforms pilots  71 
			 Lone parent leaflet promotion marketing  216 
			 National vacancy campaign  324 
			 Total 5,837 10,114 
		
	
	
		2003 to 2004
		
			 000 
			 Campaign TV Press 
		
		
			 Age Positive  70 
			 Second state pension  216 
			 Pension service awareness  906 
			 New deal 3,526 1,043 
			 Disability Discrimination Act   
			 Targeting benefit fraud 1,835 1,423 
			 Direct payment 3,594 5,389 
			 Council tax benefit  556 
			 Pension credit 3,571 6,305 
			 Winter fuel payments  625 
			 Jobseekers direct 1,566 66 
			 IB reforms pilot  68 
			 Jobcentre Plus customer marketing  12 
			 National employer campaign  1,158 
			 Total 14,092 17,.837 
		
	
	
		2002 to 2003
		
			 000 
			 Campaign TV Press 
		
		
			 Age Positive  644 
			 Future pensioners/informed choice 1,577 1,301 
			 State Second Pension  489 
			 New deal for musicians  33 
			 Disability Discrimination Act   
			 Targeting benefit fraud   
			 Direct payment  475 
			 Winter fuel payments  627 
			 Inherited Serps  646 
			 Total 1,577 4,215 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The tables do not include the following as the information is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost:
	spend by non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible;
	details of highly localised publicity activity by the Department's customer-facing businesses;
	recruitment or procurement advertising;
	Jobcentre Plus publicity during 2002 to 2003 as at that time allocations sat with individual policy teams and within regional budgets.
	2. The figures in these tables refer to media spend only, excluding production, direct mail, public relations and other costs.
	3. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
	4. All figures are quoted net of VAT.
	5. Press includes national press, regional press, specialist press, advertorials and featurelink; to provide costs for newspaper only advertising would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Advertising Costs

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on advertising for job vacancies in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Disability Employment Advisers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information is made available to disability employment advisers by his Department about organisations that provide (a) support and (b) supervision for supported permitted work; and what funding is available to such organisations to provide these services.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 20 April 2006
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what information is made available to disability employment advisers by his Department about organisations that provide (a) support and (b) supervision for supported permitted work; and what funding is available to such organisations to provide these services. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	As part of their training, all Disability Employment Advisers are made aware of the provisions for Supported Permitted Work, the relevant benefit legislation and the local organisations that provide this service. Advisers are encouraged to build relationships with organisations who provide such support, typically these would be local authorities and organisations involved with employment for disabled people. This ensures that Advisers are aware of all possibilities of support for customers. Detailed guidance on Supported Permitted Work, setting out the type of support available, is also available.
	The Department does not provide funding to organisations for the work they do supporting those participating in Supported Permitted Work.
	I hope this is helpful.

Disabled People (Heating Bills)

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance with heating bills is provided to disabled people in receipt of benefits (a) throughout the year and (b) during the winter months.

Anne McGuire: Disability living allowance and attendance allowance provide severely disabled people with a contribution towards the extra costs they face because of the effects of their disability. Recipients are free to spend these benefits in any way they choose, During the winter months, disabled people in receipt of certain benefits may be eligible to receive a cold weather payment. Cold weather payments are intended to provide extra help to the most vulnerable people towards additional heating costs during a period of cold weather. People receiving pension credit are eligible. Income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance customers with a pensioner or disability premium, or who have a child under five or a child who is disabled in their family, are eligible because they are considered to be the most vulnerable.
	Winter fuel payments of up to 200 are available to disabled people aged 60 or over, and up to 300 for those aged 80 or over, regardless of whether they are in receipt of any benefit.

Pension Credit

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria are used by (a) the Pension Service and (b) other agencies for which his Department has responsibility in (i) identifying and (ii) approaching people who have not applied for pension credit but might be eligible for it.

Stephen Timms: The Pension Service uses savings and tax information obtained from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customstogether with administrative data from the Departmentto help identify those customers whose income and savings levels would exclude them from entitlement to pension credit. The Pension Service then assesses the most appropriate way of approaching those customers with potential eligibility.

Pensions

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that Royal Mail pensioners will be paid their accrued pension benefits in full in the event of Royal Mail being unable to meet its obligations.

Stephen Timms: The Government do not guarantee company pension schemes. However, the Pensions Act 2004 puts in place specific measures to provide support, advice and protection to schemes and to scheme members. These include:
	The Pensions Regulator which has a broad range of powers to help it fulfil its statutory objectives which include protecting the benefits of occupational pension scheme members. The Regulator will act quickly to anticipate and tackle any risks to those members;
	A new scheme funding regime which requires trustees and employers to agree an appropriate funding target for the scheme and a plan for eradicating any shortfall; and
	The Pension Protection Fund which will provide protection to members of eligible defined benefit occupational pension schemes where the employer becomes insolvent (after 6 April 2005) and leaves the scheme under funded.
	As a defined benefit occupational pension scheme, the Royal Mail scheme is eligible to benefit from these arrangements.

Pensions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the countries where British pensioners living abroad (a) do and (b) do not have their pensions uprated; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: We uprate the UK state pension to people who are living outside the UK where there is a legal requirement to do so under either the terms of a reciprocal agreement or EC law. The following lists show those countries where the state pensions are uprated; it is not uprated in any other country The UK has reciprocal agreements covering the uprating of state pensions with the following countries:
	Austria 1
	Barbados
	Belgium 1
	Bermuda
	Channel Islands
	Cyprus 1
	Finland 1
	France 1
	Germany 1
	Gibraltar
	Iceland 1
	Ireland 1
	Isle of Man
	Israel
	Italy 1
	Jamaica
	Luxembourg 1
	Malta 1
	Mauritius
	Netherlands 1
	Norway 1
	Philippines
	Portugal 1
	Spain 1
	Sweden 1
	Switzerland 1
	Turkey
	USA
	Yugoslavia (including the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).
	UK nationals living in the following countries are entitled to upratings of state pension under EC law on co-ordination of social security:
	Austria
	Belgium
	Cyprus
	Czech Republic
	Denmark
	Estonia
	Finland
	France
	Germany
	Gibraltar
	Greece
	Hungary
	Iceland
	Ireland
	Italy
	Latvia
	Liechtenstein
	Lithuania
	Luxembourg
	Malta
	Netherlands
	Norway
	Poland
	Portugal
	Slovak Republic
	Slovenia
	Spain
	Sweden
	Switzerland
	1 The UK's reciprocal agreements with these countries have generally been superseded by EC law on co-ordination of social security.

Winter Fuel Payment

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people his Department estimates were entitled to receive their winter fuel payment but did not do so in (a) 200102, (b) 200203, (c) 200304, (d) 200405 and (e) 200506.

Stephen Timms: Most people who qualify for a winter fuel payment do not need to make a claim because they are paid automatically from DWP records. Some people aged 60 or over who are not in receipt of a benefit administered by DWP do need to claim. Many men aged 6064, for example, fall into this category and need to claim. However, we do not have any estimate for how many eligible people have not claimed.

Winter Fuel Payment

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people his Department estimates did not receive their backdated winter fuel allowance for 200506 consequent on his Department's ruling that claims had to be made by 30 March 2006 for this winter.

Stephen Timms: Using departmental records we issue claim forms automatically to people we can identify who may be newly eligible. We cannot identify everyone who may be newly eligible as some people have had no recent contact with the Department and we do not hold up-to-date address details. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of how many eligible people have not received a winter fuel payment because they did not make a claim by 30 March 2006. In order to maximise take-up we run an extensive publicity campaign advising people how to claim their payment and giving details of the cut-off date for claims.

Winter Fuel Payment

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of appeals for back payment of winter fuel payments were successful in each year from 2002 to 2005.

Stephen Timms: Details of appeals on late claims for 2002 to 2004 are provided as follows:
	
		
			 Winter Appeals received Appeals allowed by tribunal (Number) Appeals allowed by tribunal (Percentage) 
		
		
			 2002 1,407 5 Less than 0.5 
			 2003 1,157 2 Less than 0.5 
			 2004 733 4 Less than 1 
		
	
	No appeals have been received for 2005 as decisions on late claims for winter 2005 have not yet been issued.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Case Management

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she plans to take to increase the number of cases presented to magistrates courts by designated caseworkers.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The CPS has embarked on a recruitment, training and development programme to prepare sufficient numbers of designated caseworkers to handle a minimum of 16 per cent. of routine magistrates court sessions nationally in 200607. In some areas this figure will be much higher. Recently revised guidelines issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions expanded the range of cases capable of being handled by designated caseworkers; and CPS staff will work closely with their HMCS partners to seek better scheduling of cases suitable for presentation by designated caseworkers.

Case Management

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether she plans to establish small prosecution case management teams, made up of designated caseworkers, administrative staff and lawyers responsible for reviewing and presenting cases from a single police division as recommended by the National Audit Office.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	As identified by the NAO in their visits to a number of operational units, particularly in Northumbria and South Wales, alignment of dedicated teams of CPS prosecutors, designated caseworkers and administrative staff, to police divisions/basic command units, and ideally servicing discrete magistrates courts, offered the best model for the effective local delivery of justice, both in terms of value for money, victim and witness care, and in promoting the confidence of the local community.
	The CPS has initiated a programme of activity to restructure all operational units handling volume crime into a similar model, working in close partnership with police colleagues and the courts, and in line with current proposals for police reform, currently the subject of consultation.

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment the Department has made of the impact of the bad character provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on criminal proceedings.

Fiona Mactaggart: I have been asked to reply.
	We have commissioned a research project to assess the impact on the courts of the bad character provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The researchers are due to complete their work by the end of 2006.

Electoral Reform

James Duddridge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on voter participation of thenarrowness of the majority of the sitting hon. Member.

Bridget Prentice: My Department has not made an assessment. Research into the relationship between voter participation and the contestability of seats has not led to a consensus on its impact. It is one of many factors which people may take into account in deciding whether to vote.

Human Rights Act

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what progress has been made towards making the Human Rights Act 1998 applicable to private providers of public functions;
	(2)  when she expects to publish proposals for making the Human Rights Act 1998 applicable to private providers of public functions;
	(3)  what discussions she has had with the Department for Trade and Industry on measures needed to make the Human Rights Act 1998 applicable to private providers of public functions.

Bridget Prentice: My noble Friend the Minister for Human Rights (Baroness Ashton of Upholland) undertook that the Government would seek a case in which to argue for the its original intention as to the scope of the Human Rights Act 1998. A suitable case has been identified, and the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs has applied to intervene. We believe that a successful intervention would be the best resolution of this problem.
	The Government nevertheless still intends to issue a consultation on the scope of the Human Rights Act in the context of the Discrimination Law Review. As part of this, my noble Friend is of course in contact with her ministerial colleagues, including the Minister for Women and Equality at the Department of Trade and Industry (Meg Munn).

Voter Registration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures her Department has taken to encourage illiterate and semi-literate electors to register to vote.

Bridget Prentice: Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) send an electoral registration form to every household each year at the annual canvass of electors, and a member of each household is required to complete and return the registration form to the ERO on behalf of all persons living there. The Electoral Administration Bill currently before Parliament places a duty on EROs to ensure electoral registers are complete. As part of this duty, EROs will be required where necessary to make house-to-house inquiries to ensure completed registration forms are returned for all eligible persons. Therefore illiterate, or semi-literate, electors may not have to complete the registration form by themselves.
	My Department is also working with key stakeholders on improving the annual canvass form by making it clearer, simpler and easy to understand.

HEALTH

Advertising and Marketing

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2006, Official Report, column 139W, on advertising and marketing campaigns, what financial limits will be placed on advertising of services by hospitals.

Liam Byrne: The initial principles set out in The NHS in England: The Operating Framework for 200607 state that providers will not want to spend excessively on marketing and are likely to welcome clear guidance on what is acceptable. As indicated in my earlier response, the Department is currently working with key stakeholders, such as the NHS Confederation, the Foundation Trust Network, the Healthcare Commission, and NHS Partners, in order to develop this guidance, which will be published later in the year.

Agenda for Change

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Health when the payments due under Agenda for Change will be made; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The new pay system has been designed to support modernisation within the health service and is a pay reform package designed to match pay to the weight of the job. The pay rates under the new system came into effect from the 1 October 2004, and when staff are assimilated any pay increase will normally be back-dated to this date. As at the end of February 2006, 97.1 per cent. of national health service staff had been assimilated, and this is expected to have risen to 99 per cent. at the end of March.

Alzheimer's Disease

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department has issued to primary care and other health trusts on the use of medications and remedies to assist patients with the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease before the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence reports in July.

Liam Byrne: The Department has not issued any guidance to primary care and other health trusts on the use of medications and remedies to assist patients with the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Until the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence issues revised guidance to the national health service, its original guidance issued in 2001 continues to apply.

BCG Vaccinations

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has reviewed the Wandsworth primary care trust local BCG vaccination policy; if she will place a copy of it in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not review local primary care trust (PCT) bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG) vaccination policy.
	PCTs are responsible for the performance of immunisation services and for specifying the level and quality of services provided. PCTs will in turn be held to account for their performance, through their commissioning arrangements with service providers, by the strategic health authority.

Bowel Cancer Screening

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many testing kits have been (a) ordered, (b) manufactured and (c) distributed as part of the rollout of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme from 1 April 2006; and who is responsible for providing the testing kits;
	(2)  when each of the programme hubs for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme will be (a) commissioned and (b) operational;
	(3)  how many (a) men and (b) women aged 60 to 69 years have been invited to be screened for bowel cancer as part of the rollout of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme from 1 April 2006;
	(4)  what funding her Department has agreed for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in (a) 200607 and (b) 200708;
	(5)  what estimate she has made of the increase in bowel cancer screening capacity in England since 1 April 2006.

Rosie Winterton: holding answers 24 April 2006
	The national bowel cancer screening programme will be rolled out nationally over the next three years. Funding for the first year of the screening programme is being transferred to the national cancer screening team in Sheffield, and Wolverhampton will be the first local screening centre.
	We estimate that around 10 million will be spent on the first stages of the national bowel cancer screening programme. Funding decisions have not yet been made for future years are but we are committed to ensuring that the necessary funding is available to ensure the full implementation of the programme.
	NHS Cancer Screening Programmes are taking all the necessary action to ensure the successful roll-out of the programme, including the procurement of testing kits. The kit supplier has been notified that the first order is for 100,000 kits. No kits have been distributed as they have not yet been received from the manufacturer.
	Five programme hubs across England will invite men and women to participate in the screening programme, send out the faecal occult blood (FOB) testing kits, interpret kits and send results out. 90 to 100 local screening centres will provide endoscopy services for the 2 per cent. of men and women who have a positive FOB test result.
	The first of the five programme hubs will be established in Rugby. The NHS Cancer Screening Programmes team is currently considering where the other programme hubs will be located. We intend that the other four programme hubs will be established by March 2007, with announcements to be made in due course.
	We estimate that we could invite about 120,000150,000 men and women for screening in 200607 as part of the national bowel cancer screening programme. No invitations have been sent out as yet. In addition, the pilot in Rugby plan to invite a further 28,360 people over the next 12 months.

Capita Group

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many tenders (a) Capita plc and (b) its subsidiaries has submitted to her Department in each of the last three years; and how many tenders were successful.

Liam Byrne: We do not hold centrally information that would allow for an analysis of how many tenders Capita Group plc or its subsidiaries have been invited to bid for, and could not obtain this information without incurring disproportionate costs.

Cheshire Mersey Strategic Health Authority

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the McKinsey report on which Cheshire Mersey Strategic Health Authority based its report on preparing NHS trusts for foundation status.

Liam Byrne: This is a matter for Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority.

Choose and Book

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many out-patient appointments have been booked since April 2005.

Liam Byrne: 6,823,970 outpatient appointments have been booked.

Choose and Book

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2006, Official Report, column 143W, on choose and book, if she will break down the number of new bookings made via the choose and book service by (a) inpatient and (b) outpatient appointment in each primary care trust involved in the project.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 27 March 2006
	Choose and book is not used for booking inpatient appointments. The data given in my earlier response included bookings for outpatient and other appointments, such as appointments within primary care. At present though it is not possible to differentiate types of appointments more precisely.

Christmas Parties

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on staff Christmas parties in 200405.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally.

Clinical Trials

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) males and (b) females have had an adverse reaction to drugs whilst taking part in clinical trials in each of the last five years; what the drug involved was in each case; at which hospital each trial took place; and what the outcome was in each case.

Jane Kennedy: Clinical trials are designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new drugs and new indications for approved drugs. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) receive applications for over 1,000 new trials each year involving a planned number of new trial participants of approximately 90,000 to 95,000.
	Adverse reactions occurring during clinical trials are reported to the MHRA in summary form in end of trial reports, submitted by the trial sponsor within one year of a trial being completed. These data are not consolidated in any database form and cannot be analysed across trials. Only serious unexpected suspected adverse reactions (SUSARs) occurring during clinical trials are reported during the trial and are recorded on the MHRA's safety database.
	The numbers of reported serious unexpected suspected adverse reactions is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Males Females Not classified Total 
		
		
			 2001 314 275 17 606 
			 2002 235 207 10 452 
			 2003 154 163 19 336 
			 2004 170 154 11 335 
			 2005 167 171 21 359 
		
	
	In 2005, it would appear that the total number of SUSARs reported amounted to an estimate of less than 0.4 per cent. of the total planned number of patients participating in clinical trials for that year. These occurred with a wide range of drugs being investigated in a wide range of medical conditions, many of which were serious, such as cancers, etc.
	At this stage of development, information about a drug would be regarded as commercially confidential. In addition, information about location, or any other data which could identify individuals will not be disclosed in order to protect the identity of those individuals.

ComMedica

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what protocols are in place for the suspension and termination of contracts between providers and Connecting for Health.

Liam Byrne: NHS Connecting for Health manages its relationships with its contractors through a range of standard contractual provisions and remedies designed to address poor performance at an early stage and to support the contractor towards full compliance. These include requirements for the contractor to supply more information about the manner in which services are being provided, and the causes of any failures on the contractor's part. Others enable NHS Connecting for Health to exert greater control over how a contractor provides the services, or to require that a contractor provide the services in a different way. Specific financial remedies cover compensation for the national health service for loss suffered due to non-delivery, and the withholding of payment to incentivise compliance with contractual obligations. The contract does contain provision for the termination of the whole contract, or a part of the services provided by a contractor. However, termination is a step that NHS Connecting for Health would contemplate only after every opportunity, and all possible assistance had been given to enable a contractor to recover its position and become successful.

Consultants

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has spent on consultants in each year since 200304.

Liam Byrne: The total cost of consultants engaged directly by the Department, where in-house resources were not available, is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Cost (000) 
		
		
			 200304 10,031 
			 200405 12,800 
			 200506(22) (23)4,658 
		
	
	(22) To end of January.
	(23) The 200506 spend is lower because the Department has rectified some miscoding against expenditure category codes to provide a more accurate figure of external consultancy spend to 31 January 2006.

Consultants

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants were hired to work in her Department in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005 and (d) 2006.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not collect information that would identify the numbers of consultants engaged for the years requested. Contracts do not usually specify the precise numbers of consultants and the numbers can vary during a contract.

Departmental Officials (Hospital Visits)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals officials in the Department have visited since 1997; for what purpose in each case; if she will list the (a) date, (b) time and (c) duration of each visit; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Diabetes

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many (a) type 1 and (b) type 2 diabetics there are in England;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of people who will develop (a) type 1 and (b) type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: The PBS 1 model estimates that, in 2005, the number of people with type 1 (Tl) diabetes in England was 169,913 and the number of people with type 2 (T2) diabetes in England was 2,265,649. The PBS model does not estimate new incidence of diabetes. However, it does estimate that there will be a total of 2.75 million persons with diabetes in 2015 (Tl=173,733 and T2=2,573,560) compared to 2.44 million persons with diabetes in 2005 (Tl=169,913 and T2=2,265,649).
	1 Yorkshire and Humberside Public Health Observatory PBS (Public Health Observatory, Brent Primary Care Trust, School of Health and Related Research Sheffield University) diabetes population prevalence model.

Domestic Violence

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the access to general practitioner services by families who have been involved in domestic violence in Hull North.

Liam Byrne: All residents in Kingston-upon-Hull have equal access to general practitioner (GP) and other primary care services. In December 2005, 100 per cent. of patients in both Eastern Hull and West Hull primary care trust areas were able to be offered an appointment to see a GP within two working days.

Electricity Cables

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has undertaken into potential health risks associated with living in close proximity to high voltage electricity grid overhead cables.

Caroline Flint: The Department's radiation protection research programme supports a number of studies investigating the possible health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF). These range from laboratory work investigating possible cellular effects to large population studies. In addition, the Department, along with the Health and Safety Executive, has supported the World Health Organization's international EMF project since it started in 1997.
	The Health Protection Agency's radiation protection division (HPA-RPD) keeps the worldwide research findings on electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health continually under review. In 2004, on the basis of a comprehensive review of the existing body of research to date, the HPA-RPD, previously the national radiological protection board, recommended the adoption of new EMF exposure guidelines in this country. In addition, in view of the scientific uncertainties in relation to power frequency EMF, the HPA recommended the Government
	consider the need for further precautionary measures.
	They have also noted that the majority of elevated magnetic fields are due to variations in the electricity supply and distribution system, the presence of substations and equipment in the home rather than proximity to high voltage overhead cables.
	Practical precautionary measures are now being considered in detail by a stakeholder advisory group, SAGE, that includes Government Departments, agencies, electricity industry, specialists and public concern groups. Details of the process can be found on its website at www.rkpartnership.co.uk/sage

Emergency Admissions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what initiatives accompanied her Department's press release of 20 March, reference 2006/114, entitled Improve Healthcare by Reducing Unnecessary Emergency Admissions; and for what reasons the information was issued in the form of a press release.

Liam Byrne: One of the priorities for the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, when it was launched in July 2005, was to look at how the national health service could improve productivity. One of the first productivity savings established by the NHS Institute was that of reducing the number of unnecessary emergency admissions; namely that a 30 per cent. reduction in unnecessary emergency admissions could save the NHS around 400 million annually.
	The information on the productivity savings was issued in the form of a press release to make the NHS and public aware of the patient benefits and cost savings that were taking place in a number of NHS organisations, and to help demonstrate to other NHS organisations methods of how to increase efficiency and productivity.

Health Care (Elderly People)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what legislation governs the hiring of (a) paid and (b) volunteer staff within health care facilities caring for the elderly.

Liam Byrne: When employing staff, including those working with older people, the national health service is required to follow the guidance, Safer Recruitment, issued in May 2005. Safer Recruitment covers all the pre and post-appointment checks, including checks against the protection of children act list that NHS employers are required to make before appointing anyone, including employees, volunteers, students and trainees, to a position in the NHS. A copy is available in the Library.
	In regulated social care, providers must comply with regulations on pre-employment checks made under the Care Standards Act 2000, which came into force in April 2002. The responsibility for carrying out pre-employment checks, including Criminal Records Bureau and protection of vulnerable adults checks where applicable, rests with the relevant employer.
	In response to Sir Michael Bichard's inquiry in June 2004, the Department, in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills has been developing a new vetting and barring scheme. Legislation to provide for the scheme, which will apply to all NHS and social care settings, was introduced in the other place in February 2006.

Health Trainers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow), 13 February 2006, Official Report, column 1767W, on health trainers, for what reasons this information is not collected centrally; whether health trainers form part of a staff group for the purposes of compiling the NHS workforce census; and what assessment she has made of the average pay of a health trainer in the 200506 financial year.

Liam Byrne: Health trainers will be collected in the September 2006 workforce census but not as a separately identifiable staff group.
	Health trainer posts have been created very recently at a local level and their pay will have been evaluated or matched locally using the national health service job evaluation scheme. As such it is not possible to estimate the national average pay for health trainers in the current financial year.

Health Treatment Centres

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff are employed at each independent sector treatment centre; and what roles they perform.

Liam Byrne: As of March 2006, 21.1 whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff are on secondment to independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) projects. This includes 13.1 WTE doctors and 8.0 WTE nurses. Staff working in ISTCs are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  National health service: 
			 Location doctors seconded (WTE) nurses seconded (WTE) 
		
		
			 York 6.0 0 
			 North Bradford 5.2 0 
			 Portsmouth 0.3 8.0 
			 Kidderminster 1.6 0 
			 Total 13.1 8.0

Home Treatment

Dai Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Health and Social Care White Paper, whether she plans to give further support to new technologies that treat patients at home and prevent hospitalisation.

Liam Byrne: As a part of its prime role to deliver the national programme for information technology and to link this with the necessary improvements in clinical processes and services, the Department's NHS Connecting for Health agency is working with suppliers to encourage the development of relevant innovative information technology. It is also supporting the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's digital challenge for English local authorities by helping the national health service to work locally with the public and other agencies to develop joined-up approaches to supporting citizens to lead healthier lives in their local communities.
	In addition, the Department is providing 80 million over the next 2 years for a preventative technology grant to support 160,000 older people stay in their own homes. The purpose of the grant is to initiate a change in the design and delivery of health, social care and housing services and prevention strategies to enhance and maintain the well-being and independence of individuals.
	The white paper our health our care our say commits us to undertake a large-scale pilot exploring the potentials of technology, over a number of sites covering a total of at least 1 million people. We anticipate the pilot sites will commence by the end of 2006.

Hospitals (Brokerage)

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals in England are in receipt of brokerage.

Jane Kennedy: Cash brokerage is managed by strategic health authorities across the national health service organisations for which they have responsibility. This information is not held centrally by the Department.

Identity Fraud

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training the Department has provided for (a) front desk and (b) administrative staff in relation to identity fraud.

Liam Byrne: Staff in the Department do not routinely deal with members of the public on a face-to-face basis and written and other communications from the public are only answered if they relate to health and social care policy or services.
	Where specific inquiries are received relating to an individual's personal circumstances they are referred to the appropriate part of the national health service for answer.
	Since personal information is not released to members of the public it has not been necessary to provide specific training in relation to identity fraud in this area.

Influenza Pandemic

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has taken to ensure that (a) primary care trusts, (b) local authorities and (c) NHS trusts in West Lancashire are prepared for an influenza pandemic.

Liam Byrne: We expect all national health service organisations to have appropriate plans in place for a possible human influenza pandemic. Those plans should be developed in conjunction with partner agencies and regularly tested and updated. Operational guidance on planning for a pandemic was originally published in May 2005 and provides planning checklists for NHS organisations to inform and develop their plans. The Department continues to work with strategic health authorities to ensure that robust and resilient human influenza pandemic plans are in place across England and is currently reviewing operational approaches to the delivery of health care to ascertain whether further operational guidance may be helpful in support of local planning.

Information Sharing

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of information sharing on numbers of medical professionals being trained in European Union member states.

Liam Byrne: The Department is a member of the European Union Commission high level group on the health services and medical care, which is discussing the available data and mobility of health professionals being trained in EU member states.

Lancashire Ambulance NHS Trust

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients died in ambulances operated by the Lancashire Ambulance NHS Trust on its way to a hospital accident and emergency department in each year since 2000.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Local Improvement Finance Trusts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirement there is on the part of a local improvement finance trust company to sign all leases before building commences.

Liam Byrne: The duties of a local improvement finance trust (LIFT) are laid down in the contractual framework that is signed on the establishment of the company. This requires that all head leases between LIFT company and tenants are confirmed before financial close. Sub leases, are a matter for the head lease to determine.

Local Improvement Finance Trusts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Local Improvement Finance Trust projects have been built; and how many of them are being leased at capacity.

Liam Byrne: There are 68 new Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) facilities open to patients, with one a week opening to the end of 2006. Information is not held centrally on the capacity of buildings leased as that is a commercial issue for each LIFT company.

Local Improvement Finance Trusts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which strategic health authorities make it a policy that GPs are required to sign up to the terms of the lease to occupy local improvement finance trust premises before the full business case is approved.

Liam Byrne: The business case approval process of the Department requires, prior to financial close, that primary care trusts demonstrate:
	potential tenants for the building have been identified;
	these tenants have provided written support to confirm that they will sign up to the lease conditions and the indicative lease costs; and
	the financial implications of the nature of the various expected tenancies have been factored into processes to demonstrate affordability and value for money
	Strategic health authorities usually have a role as approvers of local improvement finance trust business cases. In undertaking this approval they will implement the approval policy listed.

Mini Motor Cycles (Protective Headgear)

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many injuries treated in emergency departments were recorded as resulting from not wearing protective headgear while driving mini motorcycles in (a) Dudley, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England in the last two years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mobile Telephones

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to update the leaflets on the health risks of mobile telephones and mobile telephone base stations published by her Department six years ago.

Caroline Flint: The leaflets on Mobile Phones and Health and on Mobile Phone Base Stations and Health were produced following the comprehensive review of the science published by the independent expert group on mobile phones (the Stewart report) in 2000. The Stewart report remains the basis of science underpinning the health policy relating to exposure mobile phone radio waves. However, in view of the time elapsed and the need to provide up-to-date information, consideration is currently being given to a revised version of the leaflets.

N3 National Network

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the N3 national network connectivity capability of (a) general practitioners and (b) pharmacists; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many (a) general practitioners and (b) pharmacists are linked to the Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions system; and by what date she expects all contractors to be linked.

Liam Byrne: Currently around 9,700 general practitioner (GP) sites, including branch surgeries, have been connected to the N3 network in England, representing some 94 per cent. of those for which orders have so far been placed. The network provides centrally-funded, secure and reliable connections, between 0.5 megabite and two megabites, along with an integrated services digital network (ISDN) back-up line for resilience, and is the biggest civilian network in Europe.
	The capability of community pharmacy contractors to connect to N3 has been greatly enhanced by commercial network providers who are now making connections to N3 available as part of the introduction of the electronic prescription service (EPS). Community pharmacy contractors now have a range of options for getting connected, including all in one packages of EPS software upgrades and network connections offered by pharmacy system suppliers.
	As at 24 March 2006, 880 GP practices and 148 pharmacies had been upgraded and linked to the EPS. The rapid implementation of the EPS means that these numbers are constantly changing. Numbers for individual GPs and community pharmacists are not available.
	In line with the target in the Department's national strategic programme, Delivering 21st Century IT, all GP practices and community pharmacies in England are expected to be linked to the service by the end of 2007.

NHS Beds

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS beds there were in each year since 2004.

Liam Byrne: The average daily number of available beds for all ward types in 200405 was 181,784.

NHS Direct

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she initiated the review of commissioning arrangements for NHS Direct from April 2007; who is conducting the review; when she expects the review to be completed; if she will publish the results of the review; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The review of NHS Directs commissioning arrangements began with the Department's arm's length body review in 2004. NHS Direct was established as a special health authority in April of that year, with primary care trusts (PCTs) becoming responsible for commissioning their services.
	To support PCTs in this role, the Department publishes annual commissioning frameworks, which are available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk. Once NHS Direct's future organisational form has been decided, the Department, in partnership with NHS Direct; PCTs; and other stakeholders will agree commissioning arrangements for 200708 and beyond. We anticipate publishing these arrangements annually in line with current practice.

NHS Litigation Authority

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 April 2006 to question 62399, what the basis was of her statement that the NHS litigation authority (NHSLA) does not record the legal funding arrangements of claimants; and what records were provided by the NHSLA to the authors of the report on the funding of personal litigation commissioned by the Department for Constitutional Affairs as part of the 'large scale data set provided by the NHSLA'.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 24 April 2006
	The NHS litigation authority (NHSLA) will record the legal funding arrangements of claimants when legal proceedings are issued. As a defendant organisation, they will not necessarily know about the funding status of claims that are pre-litigation, unless the information is offered by the claimant. Information on the funding arrangements of claimants is therefore collected but necessarily incomplete.
	The NHSLA provided a dataset containing information on a total of 58,120 cases involving litigation against the national health service related to clinical care for the report 'The Funding of Personal Injury Litigation: comparisons over time and jurisdictions,' February 2006. The following caveat to the data was quoted in the report:
	It is important to note that the proportion of CFA [conditional fee arrangement] funded cases implied by these figures is an underestimate of the proportion of cases run by claimants on a CFA basis. This is because the NHSLA, as a defendant organisation, is unlikely to know about the funding status of claims which were closed without payment of costs.

NHS Pension Scheme

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Health when she expects the resource accounts for the NHS pension scheme for 200405 to be published.

Liam Byrne: The NHS Pension Scheme Resource Account for 200405 was laid before the House on 30 January 2006 and copies of the account are available in the Library.
	The NHS Pensions Agency is in the process of producing printed and bound copies of the accounts, and these will be available from The Stationery Office within the next few weeks.

NHS Surgeries (Private Companies)

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts for NHS surgeries have been awarded to private companies; to which companies each contract has been awarded; and where each surgery is located.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally. Local primary health care provision is a matter for primary care trusts.

NHS Trust Deficits

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sums she expects to accrue to the central NHS from interest charged on NHS trusts with deficits; and how much has been accrued to date.

Jane Kennedy: The aim of the 200506 strategic health authority (SHA) surplus incentive scheme was to encourage financial management in the national health service. The scheme is run at SHA level. We will be paying interest to SHAs that underspend, in addition to charging interest to overspending SHAs, so we will not know the net gains or losses from the scheme until the 200506 out-turn figures are known.

Organ Harvesting (China)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of (a) the extent to which the practice of harvesting the organs of executed prisoners in China takes place (b) the role of the Chinese Government in the practice and (c) the extent to which such prisoners have given their consent.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Chinese Government has acknowledged the practice of organ harvesting from executed prisoners, but has given little indication as to how widespread it is other than to say it is relatively uncommon. We have received no evidence to substantiate recent media reports of large-scale organ harvesting in China. Despite Chinese Government assurances that prisoners agree to the donations voluntarily and that their families sign donation agreements, we arc concerned about this practice. I raised these concerns with the Chinese Government on 7 April. We believe that the right approach is to seek to overcome the social taboo of organ transplants in China and encourage donation from the general population. The Government welcome the announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Health of a new regulation to come into effect on 1 July, to ban the sale of organs and introduce medical standards for organ transplants.

Patient Care and Support

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under the health reform in England proposals, what the division of responsibility will be between (a) GP-contracted and (b) local government personal social services for patient care and support.

Liam Byrne: Primary care trusts (PCTs), working closely with practices will continue to be accountable for the local use of national health service resources. Local government will remain responsible for the provision of social care.
	We are exploring new ways of giving people more control over the support they need through individual budget pilots in local government. In addition, through practice based commissioning we are putting the necessary reforms in place to ensure the maximum benefit for the health and wellbeing of local populations.
	Our reforms, combined with the increased use of flexibilities allowed under section 31 of the Health Act 1999 will support the further integration of services through stronger commissioning arrangements and partnerships between practices; PCTs; local government; and local people.

Population Increases

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will adjust the funding formula for NHS trusts to take account of increases in population arising from migrants from EU accession states.

Liam Byrne: The weighted capitation formula is used to determine primary care trusts' (PCTs') target shares of available resources to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need.
	The advisory committee on resource allocations (ACRA) continuously oversees the development of the weighted capitation formula. This includes determining the populations base to be used in advance of each allocations round.
	ACRA made recommendations on the population base to be used for the 200608 revenue allocations to PCTs. As a consequence, 2003 based population projections for 2006 and 2007 published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) were used for the 200607 and 200708 revenue allocations respectively. ONS population projections take account of migration.
	ACRA will make recommendations on the populations base to be used in revenue allocations post 200708.

Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) longest and (b) average processing time to issue a certificate was by (i) the Postgraduate Medical Education Practitioner Training Board since its creation and (ii) the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice in each year from 1997 to its abolition.

Liam Byrne: The longest time taken by the postgraduate medical education training board to issue a certificate is 35 days and the average is eight days.
	The joint committee on postgraduate training in general practice did not keep statistics on the processing times of full and complete individual applications, however there were strict published timeframes which were adhered to at all times. These were as follows:
	Certificate of prescribed experience10 working days
	Certificate of equivalent experiencesix to eight weeks.

Practice-based Commissioning

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her latest estimate is of the number of GP practices engaged in practice-based commissioning (a) in total and (b) broken down by strategic health authority; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not currently collect data on take-up of practice based commissioning, although a new data collection will be established for 200607.

Preventive Technology Grant

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether she plans to ring fence payments of preventive technology grant to local authorities;
	(2)  how many people aged 65 and over had one or more items of telecare equipment in (a) their homes and (b) other residential settings at 31 March;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the number of new users of telecare equipment aged 65 and over provided with one or more items of telecare equipment in (a) their own homes and (b) other residential settings in (i) 200607 and (ii) 200708.

Liam Byrne: The preventative technologies grant will not be ring fenced. It is for local providers to determine how best to deliver services to their local population, including telecare. However, the Department expects councils, working with local partners, to achieve key public service agreement targets around supporting people with long term conditions and improving the patient and user experience, in particular supporting older people to live at home.
	The number of people aged 65 and over with one or more items of telecare equipment in their homes or residential setting is not held centrally. The Department expects councils to help an additional 160,000 older people to live at home with safety and security and reduce the number of avoidable admissions to residential/nursing care and hospital.

Primary Care Trusts

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions apply to the use primary care trusts can make of funds from the sale of assets.

Jane Kennedy: Fixed assets held by primary care trusts (PCTs) are public capital financed.
	As a consequence, under the PCTs' finance regime, cash released from their sale can only be reinvested in other capital assets, or repaid to the Department.
	In other words, the proceeds of asset-sales cannot be used to fund ordinary operating costs.
	Where the PCT chooses to reinvest the cash in its facilities, rather than repaying it, the PCTs management is free to determine what assets will be bought up to its delegated limit for capital investment.
	Delegated limits vary between 1 million and 10 million, depending on the organisation's turnover from provider activities and performance. Strategic health authorities have discretion over how amounts in excess of delegated limits are reinvested.

Primary Care Trusts

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department (a) has approached and (b) plans to approach the Treasury for a release of additional funds from the sums available in the National Insurance Fund above the minimum working balance to alleviate financial deficits in primary care trusts.

Liam Byrne: The Department has no plans to seek additional funding from the HM Treasury.

Public Information

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on her Department's public relations and information services in each of the last 5 years for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The following table shows the Department's expenditure on publicity and advertising for the last five years.
	
		 million
		
			 Financial year Advertising expenditure Publicity 
		
		
			 200001 20.80 24.32 
			 200102 20.41 16.82 
			 200203 23.13 11.72 
			 200304 38.98 13.37 
			 200405 37.80 15.16

Radiotherapy

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the reasons for the difference between the waiting times for radiotherapy patients in Leeds and the rest of Yorkshire.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 24 April 2006
	There has been a historical under-funding of staffing and equipment for radiotherapy in Leeds. Waiting times for radiotherapy at Leeds Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust are currently six weeks for urgent patients and 11 weeks for routine patients. The trust is taking action to further reduce these waiting times.
	Two new linear accelerators were commissioned in 2005, and the trust recruited 12 additional radiographers last summer and two experienced radiographers recently. The trust has commenced the process of recruiting radiologists who are due to graduate this summer. The trust is working to maximise its current capacity, although waiting times will be fully addressed only when the new oncology wing opens at St. James's University Hospital in early 2008.
	The Yorkshire cancer network was subject to a peer review exercise in October and November 2005. The report described cancer services in Leeds as excellent and the radiological services as internationally renowned.

Sexual Assault

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions exist for the (a) suspension and (b) banning of health care workers (i) accused and (ii) convicted of sexual assault.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 24 April 2006
	NHS employers have disciplinary procedures which relate to any serious crime or misconduct, and an accusation or conviction of sexual assault would be dealt with accordingly.
	Particular provisions apply if the health worker is named on the list maintained under the Protection of Children Act 1999, of individuals barred from working with children, or the list maintained under Part 7 of the Care Standards Act 2000, of individuals barred from working with vulnerable adults in regulated social care settings. The lists are managed by the Department for Education and Skills on behalf of the Department. It is an offence for any person on these lists to knowingly apply for work with children or vulnerable adults, and for an employer to knowingly offer such a person this type of work.
	Registered health professionals accused or convicted of a sexual assault would also be subject to the fitness to practice proceedings of the relevant regulatory body, which would consider whether or not they should be suspended or erased from the professional register.

Staff Abuse

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inquiries concerning abuse by health or social care staff there have been in each (a) strategic health authority and (b) local authority area in the last five years; what the status of each inquiry was; whether the data from each inquiry has been brought together; and what plans for action were made as a result of the inquiries.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not available centrally. National health service employers are responsible for ensuring that their staff do not pose a threat to the safety of patients and for acting on information about the registration status of staff subject to statutory regulation.
	All care homes, domiciliary care agencies, adult placements schemes and nurses agencies in England are regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), which is the independent regulator for social care. The CSCI is responsible for registering and inspecting the regulated social care sector in accordance with statutory regulations and national minimum standards to ensure consistency and improve the quality of life and level of protection for the most vulnerable people in society.
	Regulated social care providers, including private companies, are required to conduct rigorous pre-employment checks on prospective staff, including obtaining a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure. Since 26 July 2004, there has also been a requirement for prospective employees in these areas to be checked against the protection of vulnerable adults (POVA) list before starting work.

Tariffs

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methods she uses to assess the adequacy of data collection before the introduction of mandatory tariffs.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 24 April 2006
	The national tariff is calculated from data on the average cost of activity as reported by national health service providers through the annual reference cost collection and is subject to scrutiny by audit. The robustness of this data is tested using statistical analysis with regard to key indicators of data quality, including sample size, distribution and year-on-year volatility.

Vaccinations (Schools)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which vaccines are routinely administered by nurses in a school setting.

Caroline Flint: The tetanus/diphtheria/inactivated polio vaccine (Td/IPV), which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and polio, is the vaccine that is routinely administered by school nurses, in a school setting. This vaccine is given routinely to teenagers aged between 13 and 18 years of age.
	School nurses may also check when giving the routine Td/IPV if the teenager is up to date with other routine vaccinations such as measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), meningitis c (MenC) and for some hepatitis B, and arrange catch up vaccinations where needed.

Vaccinations (Schools)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS bodies provide funding for vaccines delivered in schools.

Caroline Flint: Funding for immunisation services in schools forms part of the annual allocation to primary care trusts (PCTs). PCTs are responsible for the management of those monies and running of immunisation programmes.

Vaccinations (Schools)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance school nurses receive on vaccines that they deliver in schools; and what understanding they are expected to have of the disease they are vaccinating against.

Caroline Flint: The Department produces a number of resources to support health professionals in the implementation of the routine childhood immunisation programme. These resources are sent directly to primary care trusts (PCTs) to cascade to the appropriate health professionals.
	Detailed information on the tetanus/diphtheria/inactivated polio vaccine (Td/IPV) routinely given by school nurses, and the diseases it protects against, is available at the publication Immunisation against infectious diseaseThe 'Green Book' chapters on Diphtheria, Hib, Pertussis, Polio and Tetanus, and the DTaP/IPV/Hib for babies, DTaP/IPV for pre-school and Td/IPV for teenagers.
	Both these publications were sent directly to PCTs at the time of publication. The Department also produces a leaflet aimed at teenagers and parents, to support school nurses and the routine immunisation programme for 13 to 18 years olds entitled, Teenage immunisations (school years 8 to 13, ages 13 to 18) your questions answered.
	All of these publications are available either from the Department's publications line free of charge or via the website at www.immunisation.nhs.uk

Waiting Lists/Times

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was in hospitals in (a) West Lancashire and (b) England in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The median waiting times for in-patient admission for March each year since 1997 at national health service trusts in West Lancashire and for England are shown in the table.
	
		Estimated average waiting time for elective admission, all specialties, England
		
			  Median time waiting (weeks) Provider based 
		
		
			 March  
			 1997 13.2 
			 1998 14.8 
			 1999 12.8 
			 2000 12.9 
			 2001 12.6 
			 2002 12.7 
			 2003 11.9 
			 2004 10.2 
			 2005 8.4 
			 February 2006 7.6 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health forms KH07, QF01 and Monthly Monitoring

Waiting Lists/Times

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for (a) in-patient and (b) out-patient hospital treatment in (i) England, (ii) Somerset and (iii) Taunton constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The median waiting times for in-patient and out-patient admission for the latest available period for England, Somerset and Dorset Strategic Health Authority (SHA), Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust (PCT), South Somerset PCT and Taunton Deane PCT are shown in the tables.
	
		Estimated average time waited for first out-patient appointment following general practitioner written referral, all specialties, quarter ended December 2005 Commissioner based
		
			  Median wait (weeks) 
		
		
			 Somerset Coast PCT 6.3 
			 South Somerset PCT 5.8 
			 Taunton Deane PCT 5.6 
			 Somerset and Dorset SHA 5.8 
			 England 6.6 
		
	
	
		Estimated average time patients have been waiting for elective admission, all specialties, February 2006Commissioner based
		
			  Median time waited so far (weeks) 
		
		
			 Somerset Coast PCT 6.8 
			 South Somerset PCT 6.4 
			 Taunton Deane PCT 6.8 
			 Somerset and Dorset SHA 7.4 
			 England 7.6 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08R and monthly monitoring